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Reaching out - Making a Difference
ANGEL TREE
SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS CHARITY
Each Christmas season the Salvation Army organizes an “Angel Tree” in various shopping malls to provide shoppers the opportunity to select children’s and/or elderly persons’ names to buy Christmas gifts for. This provides a bright spot for needy people who might not otherwise receive any presents at Christmastime.
CHILD LITERACY
“I LIKE ME” BOOKS
The Rotary Club of Dallas plus other organizations provide personalized books for low income area kindergarten children to help boost their interest in reading. The books are personally delivered each spring to the classrooms and read to the kindergarten children. Through this program, we have printed and delivered over 30,000 books to children who otherwise might not have books at home. This helps increase the love of reading and therefore, Child Literacy.
CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER
Rotarians volunteer at the hospital two hours a month on certain days by entertaining children in the hospital’s Aikman End Zone playroom and are of assistance to their visiting family members. Rotary plays a very important role in the community while assisting the Children’s Medical Center. Rotary also provides volunteers to assist with the Annual Children’s Parade in early December.
MENTORING & SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
THE DREAMTEAM
This “DreamTeam” mentors students at Woodrow Wilson High School. The team consists of Rotarians who help talented and motivated low income students succeed in high school, college and life. Rotarians make a long-term commitment to mentor a student from their sophomore year in high school through college and beyond. Meetings are one evening a month at the high school from 6:00 - 7:30pm. Mentors also meet with their Mentee during the month for activities of mutual interest to help the Mentee be more prepared for college, careers and to have fun. This team is also responsible for awarding Rotary Scholarships.
SCOTTISH RITE HOSPITAL – BIKE RODEO
In partnership with the Scottish Rite Hospital, Rotary hosts a bike safety day on the grounds of the hospital. Volunteers are needed to assist in all stations of bike safety and lunch preparation. In addition, the Dallas Police and Fire Departments add to the event with their special interactive displays of general safety. Visits by the Care Flight and police helicopters provide a thrill for the attendees young or old.
SALUTE TO AMERICA’S VETERANS PROGRAM
The Rotary Club of Dallas’ Salute to America’s Veterans was initiated in 2005 to honor Veterans and active duty military. Usually held in November it is designed to recognize the contributions of Veterans across the generations for maintaining our freedom and liberties. Net proceeds from this event have been contributed to the DFW USO located at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to provide comfort, food and refreshment for the US military men and women as they travel to and from their assignments.
CAMP ENTERPRISE
Camp Enterprise teaches the American Free Enterprise System to selected DISD and other senior students. Students apply during the spring semester of their junior year. About 120 students are selected on a competitive basis to attend camp during September of their senior year. This four day camp is a fun experience in a beautiful camp environment where successful men and women business speakers come to share their experiences in beginning and succeeding in the American Free Enterprise. Students learn about how to lead and make business decisions. They form companies and compete for valuable prizes. The camp includes team building exercises, as well as team competition in a computer simulated business industry.
CAMP RYLA
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP ASSEMBLY
This program is a five day camp that gives students the opportunity to learn and develop their leadership skills. It is like Camp Enterprise in a fun country camp environment, but focused on leadership development rather than business concepts. This is a Rotary District program, meaning multiple Rotary Clubs sponsor students to attend.
INTERACT CLUB WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL
This is a Rotary Club for high school students, 14 – 18 years of age. Interact provides high school students an opportunity to organize and run a group of service projects and also have fun in social activities as a group focused on serving others. It teaches community service, leadership and fellowship. Thus teaching young people to value “Service Above Self”.
DALLAS POLICE AWARDS
Rotary host and honors three times each year the Police Awards: Officer of the Month, Rookie of the Year and Officer of the Year. Each of these received recognition at a Rotary Luncheon and a monetary award.
OUTSTANDING DISD TEACHER APPRECIATION AWARDS
Each year the top three teachers in each category of elementary, middle and high schools are honored at a Rotary Club Luncheon. A monetary award is presented to each of those nine awardees along with a plaque. A close relationship with the Dallas Independent School District allows for our committee to gather nominees.
YOUTH EXCHANGE
Students are chosen from a rigorous selection process. Whether the students participate in Rotary’s long-term or short-term Youth Exchange programs, they will learn a new way of living, a great deal about themselves, and maybe even a new language. Youths who apply and are selected also are an ambassador, teaching people they meet about their country, culture, and ideas. More than 8,000 young people each year have experiences like these through Rotary Youth Exchange. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Our Club submits applications received at our office to be reviewed at the District Level and then final approval is completed by Rotary International.
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