Rotary Club of Thurso 

The History of Rotary Foundation

In 1917, Arch C Klumph, Rotary's 6th President, proposed to the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an "endowment fund for Rotary....for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational and other avenues of community service". A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than US$5,000, the fund was renamed the Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International. Five trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to "hold, invest, manage and administer all of its property....as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purposes of Rotary International". Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of US$500 to the International Society for Crippled Children.

The Great Depression and World War 2 both impeded significant growth of the Foundation, but the need for promoting a lasting world peace generated great post-war interest in developing Foundation. After Rotary Founder Paul P Harris died in 1947, contributions began pouring into Rotary International and the Paul Harris Memorial Fund was created for the purpose of building the Foundation.

The same year, the first Foundation programme was established - Fellowships for Advanced Study, which was the forerunner of the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships programme. Then in 1965/66, three new programmes were launched - Group Study Exchange, Awards for Technical Training and Grants for Activities in Keeping with the Objective of the Rotary Foundation (later called Matching Grants).

The Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) programme was launched in 1978, with the Rotary Volunteers programme being created as a aprt of 3-H in 1980. The PolioPlus programme was announced in 1984/85, and the following year saw the introduction of Rotary Grants for University Teachers. The first Peace Forums were held in 1987/88, leading to the establishment of Rotary Peace Programmes. The in 1989, a past Rotary President (Carl P Miller and his wife Ruth) donated US$1 million to establish the Discovery Grants Programme.

Throughout this time, support for the Foundation grew significantly. Since that first donation of $26.50 in 1917, the Foundation has received contributions totaling more than US$1 billion. More than US$68 million was donated in 1998/89 alone. To date, some 726,000 individuals have been recognised as Paul Harris Fellows, that is, someone who has donated US$1,000 or has had that amount contributed in his or her name.

Rotoract and Interact

Rotary International has created for young people two organisations dedicated to service and international understanding. Though closely associated with Rotary, their clubs are independent and self-governing.

Interact, a combination of the words international and action, is for young people between 14 and 18. Rotaract, a contraction of 'Rotary' and 'action' is for men and women between 18 and 30.

These clubs serve the community. Through fellowship they run a range of local, national and international service projects with the energy and enthusiasm of youth.

Rotary International and RIBI

Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI), with its own governing body and constitution, is a territorial unit of Rotary International, the association of Rotary clubs worldwide. It administers 29 Rotary districts in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The Rotary ideal of fellowship and international understanding is exemplified by the fact that a single Rotary district covers the whole of Ireland. This district, with its single organisation is a working model of the Rotary spirit in action.

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Last updated:Friday August 18, 2006