Thanks to all who attended our Pints and Pours to End Polio!  Our 50/50 raffles raised $2182.  This becomes $6,546 with the Gates Foundation 2:1 Match!  We also just enjoyed a great Foundation Gala on November 7 where we celebrated our support for The Rotary Foundation. 
 
November is Rotary Foundation month.  Your contributions to The Rotary Foundation enable our District Matching Grants as well as our international projects.  Your donations are invested for three years and then become available through our Annual Fund SHARE system.  The investment income plus 5% of the original amount are used for administrative costs.  After three years, 47.5% of the original donations are available for our district to use.  Up to half of the 47.5% (23.75% of the original) is able to be used for district matching grants.  Our district's philosophy is that we want to use as much of this as possible (with good stewardship) for matching grants.  The other 23.75% is used to match approved global grants initiated by our clubs, support our Peace Centers worldwide, and PolioPlus.
 
Sorry about all the numbers - but the upshot is that your donations enable our work.  Charity Navigator has rated The Rotary Foundation leading 5 star charity for fifteen years - the best rating possible.  Remember that The Rotary Foundation is our Foundation - the trustees are fellow Rotarians with the same hearts and hands for service and high ethics as you!
 
By now, many of you have heard me speak.  As part of that, I suggest that you consider creating a bequest to The Endowment Fund of The Rotary Foundation.  The income from bequests is used annually as directed by the bequester and can be directed to be distributed through Annual Fund SHARE system.  A bequest of just $25,000 on average will return $1000 of income annually in perpetuity.  In other words, with a bequest of $25,000 you would be essentially a Paul Harris Society member forever!  Please consider your legacy with The Endowment Fund.
 
Dale Smith
District Governor 2024/2025
Rotary International District 6630
Past-President
Rotary Club of Mentor
The Magic of Rotary
330-968-7683 (m)