Partnerships
Rotary club of Grand Island Partnered with Salvation Army to support Feeding people impacted by COVID. Additional partnerships include Growing Readers, and Miracle League.
Community Service Projects
Scholarships – Annually, the Rotary Club of Grand Island awards scholarships to graduating Grand Island High School students. We look for are individuals who embody the Rotary theme of service above self. Those that are not only academic achievers, but those that are involved in the community and involved in school activities and really embody the whole person, what we aspire to be as Rotarians.
Beaver Island Parkway Highway and Shoreline Trail clean up (Fall and Spring) – RCGI sponsors a bi-annual highway clean up with HS Interact club, other HS students and Rotaracts.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing – Annually the Rotary Club of Grand Island coordinates filling the kettles at TOPS Market on Grand Island. Both Rotarians and the Rotary Sponsored Youth clubs have helped fill those hours to generate donations to the Salvation Army efforts.
Undie Sunday – Rotary Club of Grand Island’s Undie Sunday is to benefit the homeless in Niagara Falls and Buffalo. Hampers are distributed to community locations. Hundreds of pairs of socks and underclothing, plus cash, were donated to the 2020 Rotary Club of Grand Island’s annual Undie Sunday drive. The less fortunate clients of The Community Mission of Niagara Falls and Refugee resettlement services Journey's End were the beneficiaries of these donations.
Family Justice Center – The Family Justice Center of Erie County provides services and support to individuals in unhealthy relationships, and the education our community needs to break larger cycles of relationship abuse. The Rotary Club of Grand Island was one of the volunteer groups in opening a satalite location on Grand Island and continues to support its mission of breaking the cycle of abuse.
Miracle League – Rotary of Grand Island completed a 10-year commitment to support The Miracle League of Grand Island. The club awards $2,500 each year from 2012. The Miracle League provides an opportunity for children with mental and/or physical challenges to play baseball. With a specially designed turf and buddies that assist the players, children of any ability are able to play. In years past we provided workers to help with construction of an adjacent handicapped friendly playground.
Growing Readers - Rotary of Grand Island partners with the Growing Readers program. All children who visit Grand Island Pediatrics for their 2nd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th month well baby visit, receive a brand new book to grow their personal library. This program also promotes reading aloud to infants and toddlers. The club donated $2,200 in spring 2019. Grand Island will be recognized at the annual Erie County Association of School Boards Awards Dinner in the “Excellence in Collaboration” category. This program is coordinate with a board from the Grand Island Memorial Library, Grand Island Pediatrics, the Neighbors Foundation, the Grand Island Central School District and Rotary of Grand Island.
Medical Clinic in Haiti
Haiti - just 3 hours from US, yet a world away. During discussions with Rotarians from other Clubs in District 7090, Grand Island Rotarian John Harbison became aware of the possibility of a joint medical clinic project with Les Cayes Rotary Club in Haiti, plus Bethanie Medical Mission. Maniche, a mountain town 20 miles from Les Cayes (but more than 2 hrs drive on rutted, washed-out, dirt road) had no medical facilities, yet was a natural gathering spot for thousands Haitians walking in from surrounding hills. Bethanie had built a clinic in another direction from Les Cayes and offered guidance. Grand Island Rotary partnered with Williamsville Rotary, raised money thru a 'Tango Night', collected pledges from other Rotary Clubs, Grand Island Zonta Club, and other churches and organizations.
With a matching grant from the Rotary Foundation for equipment, $25,000 raised locally became $50,000, and the Clinic is soon to be a reality. Medical service has been provided in several years by visiting teams primarily from Western NY, to encourage Haitians to consider Maniche a location providing help.
The medical teams often find themselves overwhelmed, but they help establish the idea of coming to Maniche for help. Yes, Haiti still has severe problems, but Grand Island Rotarians, along with other WNY Rotary Clubs and Les Cayes Rotary on the scene in Haiti, are helping.