Rotary Club of Tustin - Santa Ana

08/20/2026

Our August 13 Rotary meeting was all about supporting and encouraging young people in our community! 🎓🔬🎹

We were pleased to welcome Paul Pooler, Assistant Director of the Achievement Institute for STEM Scholars (AISS), who shared with us the important work this Santa Ana-based organization is doing to prepare high-achieving, economically disadvantaged students for college and careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

AISS provides students with a two-year program that goes far beyond the classroom, offering hands-on STEM experiences, mentoring, college preparation, life and professional skills, networking opportunities, and exposure to STEM careers. It was inspiring to learn how they are helping students turn their interests and abilities into opportunities for their futures.

We also welcomed Melody Chavez, the Rotary Club of Tustin–Santa Ana’s sponsored candidate for Miss Tustin! 👑 Melody shared a little about herself and treated us to a video showcasing her talent—playing the piano. 🎹

We wish Melody the very best as she takes the stage at the Miss Tustin Scholarship Competition this Saturday! We’re proud to be cheering her on! 💙💛

A great meeting highlighting education, opportunity, talent, and some pretty impressive young people in our community!

Rotary District 5320 Governor

08/19/2026

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1470260978465680&set=a.560484486110005&type=3&mibextid=wwXIfr

Polio has affected millions of lives, but many survivors went on to achieve remarkable things. Famous polio survivors include Franklin D. Roosevelt, who became U.S. president; Mia Farrow, the acclaimed actress and activist; Itzhak Perlman, the world-renowned violinist; and Donald Sutherland, the celebrated Canadian actor. Their stories remind us that a polio diagnosis does not have to define a person’s future. Resilience, talent, and determination can overcome enormous challenges.

08/15/2026

District Leadership Forum

On Monday, August 10, Rotarians gathered at the Fountain Valley Senior Center for our new District Governor Monica Peters’ first District Leadership Forum. It was a great evening of networking, socializing, and connecting with fellow Rotarians from throughout the district.

The evening’s program focused on the power of social media and how clubs can use it to share their stories, promote their service projects, and increase their visibility within the community.

Thank you to Naomi, Jonathan, Roger, and Laurie for attending and representing the Rotary Club of Tustin-Santa Ana. It’s always great to see our club represented at District events!

Rotary District 5320 Governor

08/05/2026

08/02/2026

Back-to-School Resource Fair Serves Nearly 900 Families

On Saturday, Jonathan, Tammis, and Laurie volunteered at the Tustin Unified School District’s Back-to-School Resource Fair. While proudly representing our Rotary Club, they also served in a variety of volunteer roles, alongside many other community volunteers and partner organizations.
This wonderful community event welcomed nearly 900 families, who had the opportunity to visit a variety of community resource booths and receive a backpack filled with school supplies to help students start the new school year prepared for success. We were especially excited to see the backpacks our club packed during our Tools for Schools project become part of this important effort.
The event was truly a collaborative partnership. In addition to our Rotary Club’s contribution, backpacks were also provided through the Santa Ana Elks Lodge, with support from OC United Way and the Tustin Unified School District. Families also enjoyed pancakes prepared by the Kiwanis Club while exploring the many community resources available.
A special thank you to Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris for attending and supporting the event, and to her District Director, Michael Tou, whose office played an instrumental role in partnering with Tustin Unified School District and the community to help make this event a success.
Thank you to Jonathan, Tammis, and Laurie for giving their time to help ensure local students are ready for a successful school year!

Rotary District 5320 Governor

07/29/2026

Thank you Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris!

Rotary District 5320 Governor

07/24/2026

Tools for Schools: Helping Students Start the Year Strong

Today, our Rotary Club came together for our annual Tools for Schools service project, assembling approximately 200 backpacks filled with essential school supplies, including pencils, erasers, crayons, markers, and more. These backpacks will be distributed to students throughout the Tustin Unified School District, helping ensure they begin the school year with the tools they need to succeed.

A special thank-you to Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris for joining us, rolling up her sleeves, and working alongside our members to pack backpacks. We truly appreciate her support of this important community project.

This collaborative effort between the Office of Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, OC United Way, Tustin Unified School District, and our Rotary Club demonstrates the power of community partnerships working together to support local students.

We would also like to thank Tustin Unified School District for sending a truck and staff to the Elks Lodge to pick up the approximately 200 completed backpacks and ensure they were delivered to the students who need them. We appreciate their partnership in making this project a success.

It was a rewarding afternoon of service, fellowship, and giving back, knowing these backpacks will help students start the school year prepared for success.

Rotary District 5320 Governor

07/22/2026

Rotary District 5320 Governor