Spokane Rotary Club 21

05/16/2026

We had the double honor of celebrating President Julie Kelsey’s birthday this week while also enjoying a surprise goat-ing by Wishing Star Foundation courtesy of Cindy Guthrie! President Julie later shared what a rush it was to be honored with the Happy Birthday song by the entire meeting!

10/08/2025

We are so grateful to Spokane Rotary Club 21 for their generous grant toward our Christmas Giving Program! Thank you so much, this will make a big impact for our Wish Families during the holiday season.

Did you know that Christmas Giving is part of our Beyond The Wish Programing? We truly believe once a wish family, always a wish family and strive to support our families long after the wish has been granted.
Whether it is holiday support, monthly meetups, help with medical equipment or more, we will continue to stay with a family for as long as they will have us

There is still time to sponsor a family!
https://wishingstar.org/christmas-giving-program-sponsor-form/

07/26/2024

Rotary 21 was honored to present the Katy Reeves Performing Arts Scholarship to five outstanding students yesterday. The Katy Reeves Performing Arts Scholarship was established in 2004 by Jack and Carol Reeves in memory of their daughter Katy, who died tragically in 2003.

Since its inception, The Katy Reeves Performing Arts Scholarship has assisted students who wished to continue following their creative passions through post-secondary education.

Congratulations to Nadia Banka, Mari Hirayama, Ella Melin, Eliana Starbuck, and Katelyn Wilson, on being chosen as Katy Reeves Performing Arts Scholarship awardees.

06/28/2024

Yesterday Club 21 celebrated President Rod Price in his last meeting at the podium. A few words President Price shared yesterday:

Looking back on this year, it's clear that our success was driven by the dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm of each and every one of you. We've made a significant impact, not only within our club but in the broader community. As I step down, I am confident that our incoming leadership will continue to build on this foundation and achieve even greater heights.

In a conversation with the Dalai Lama, Jerome Kagan, a distinguished emeritus professor of child psychology at Harvard said:

“That for every act of cruelty in the world, there are hundreds of small acts of kindness and connection.” His conclusion? “To be benevolent rather than malevolent is the true nature of our species.”

Thank you all for an incredible year, for your commitment to service, and for making my time as President so rewarding. Let’s keep this momentum going and continue to do great things together!

🗻Thank you President Price for an excellent year of leadership, helping to make our community and world a better place! Here's to many fantastic hikes ahead! 🏔

06/10/2024

Rotary Club 21 is excited to share the 2023 - 2024 Gene Bronson Awardees, Daryl Geffken and Mimi Vimont!

The Gene Bronson award is given to a new Rotarian (who joined the club within this Rotary year) who has best-demonstrated Service Above Self in their first year with Rotary. They will each be awarded $400 toward their first Paul Harris Fellow.

Congratulations to Daryl and Mimi, thank you for your dedication to making our community and world a better place!

06/07/2024

05/30/2024

Rotary 21 is excited to announce Dr. Deborah Harper as the 2023 - 2024 Fred K. Jones awardee. This is Club 21’s Award for Rotarian of the Year. It represents the long-time commitment and support of our Club and Rotary at large. It’s given to a member of our club who best epitomizes Service Above Self and whose life personifies the Four Way Test.

Dr. Deb (as her fellow Rotarians lovingly call her) has been a dedicated member of Rotary Club 21 for over two decades. She is a servant leader whose quiet, steady presence has sent ripple effects through communities near and far.

Not one to shy away from the task at hand, Deb is the first to say, “Yes, I will help,” and the last one to go home when the work is done. She currently serves on seven different committees, and her seemingly endless energy continues to make a difference everywhere they go – right here in Spokane and across the globe. Whether it’s showing up at Stevens Elementary during COVID nearly every week for 10 months to help distribute over 350,000 lbs. of food to families in need, participating in “graffiti busting” work days, entertaining kids at vaccination clinics, sorting food for the Bite2Go program at Second Harvest, partnering with Rotary International and other clubs on water projects and education for girls in developing countries, she helps provide basic needs most of us take for granted. In doing so, she has helped improve the quality of life for thousands of people worldwide by gifting their time, talent, and treasure. Each step of the way, each project they touch, she quietly leaves a legacy for generations to come.

As if that weren’t enough, she was instrumental in establishing the Foster KidFest Committee which has resulted in 65 adoptions of children from foster care. That’s a rate of 51% and rising. The most recent Foster KidFest party hosted 11 children many of whom are in the early phases of connecting with their forever families.

A 6-time Paul Harris Fellow, she served as Club President from 2018-2019, is currently the Co-Chair of the Greeter’s Committee, and serves on the following committees: Disability Service, International Service, Youth Service, Program, Invocation, and Music!

Congratulations Dr. Deb Harper! Thank you for all you do to make our community and world a better place!

05/30/2024

This afternoon Rotary 21 was excited to recognize two emerging artists in our community with the Rotary Community Services Youth Services Committee Emerging Artist Award.

Sindhu S. (left) of University High School and Annabella E. (right) of Central Valley High School were recognized for their outstanding artwork and given a small cash award to help support their art in whatever way they might need.

Congratulations Sindhu and Bella! We hope you keep creating art for many years to come!

05/21/2024

05/20/2024

Thank you to Lilac City Roller Derby for coming out to support our celebration of Foster Families!