Winnsboro Rotary Club

Rotary started with the vision of one man, Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney who formed the Rotary Club of Chicago in 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful lifelong friendships, and give back to their community. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. The heart of Rotary is our members, dedicated people who share a passion for community service and friendship. Rotary’s , first global international project, began with the fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only three countries — down to 37 in 2016 with commitment of up to $450 million from the Bill Gates Foundation.

I’m proud to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Winnsboro. The Rotary Club of Winnsboro is composed of over 25 members from a broad spectrum of ages, backgrounds, and occupations. Chartered in May 1938, the Rotary Club of Winnsboro, has been committed to serving Fairfield County for over 80 years. We currently meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month in Winnsboro at Midlands Technical College, Fairfield Campus in Fairfield Hall. During our monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to network, cultivate friendships, and discuss how we can make an impact in our community,our state, our nation, and internationally.

We have committed to several service projects that enhance the quality of life for the residents of Fairfield County. Each year the Rotary Club of Winnsboro gives two scholarships in the amount of $1000 each to a graduating senior from Fairfield Central High School and Richard Winn Academy.

Next month, we are hosting a Barbecue Fundraiser to benefit these scholarships. All proceeds will go directly to fund these scholarships. This year we gave a monetary donation to benefit the hardship fund at Hawthorne Pharmacy to aid individuals who are financially unable to pay for the cost of their prescription medicine. Most recently, the Rotary Club of Winnsboro, donated a Friendship Bench to Kelly Miller Elementary School, to help cultivate better friendships, one of the core tenets of Rotary. We have plans to donate a friendship bench to each elementary school in Fairfield County.

Fellow Rotarians, John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney, Sam Walton, Pope Francis, & Dianne Feinstein were committed to the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” These individuals gave countless hours, time, and their talents to help the greater good by inspiring others to serve unselfishly in their community and beyond. Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” As a Rotarian, I would like to extend to you an invitation to serve with us and give back with a heart of service to others, your community, and the world. Are you willing to serve? Are you willing to do something?