From Rob Byrne, Senior Coordinator – Foundation Services, Rotary South Pacific & Philippines Office
The districts in Australia and New Zealand initiated the Centurion Program many years ago, as an easy way for all Rotarians to support their charity, The Rotary Foundation.
Program members are asked to make a yearly contribution of AUS$100 or more to the Foundation’s Annual Fund. That’s about $2 per week.
This year, the Australian and New Zealand districts are launching Centurion Week in the second week of Foundation Month, from 9th to 15th November. With Rotary about to celebrate 100 years in Australia and New Zealand, it’s a great time to become a Centenary Centurion!
The benefits of doing so mean that the Foundation helps you as a Rotarian to deliver much greater impact, whether in your own community or around the world. Have a look at p.13 of this month’s Rotary Down Under. It gives an example of how a Rotarian with a great idea can access Foundation funding to deliver a community project that would otherwise have been well out of reach. And on p.12, you’ll see that for every $100 contributed in Australia and New Zealand, Rotarians have received grants of $183 to support their projects!
Think of the Foundation as your Impact Multiplier.
How do you become a Centurion?
Many clubs simply add a $100 option to their annual dues invoice and then forward this, on your behalf, to the Foundation.
Others add $2 to the weekly attendance fee.
Mostly, members just go to My Rotary and set up a regular payment, whether monthly, quarterly or yearly, to the Annual Fund.
The Rotary Foundation is our charity. Let’s all support it and multiply our impact in the world.
There’s a new brochure that gives you a quick overview of the Foundation in our region. Download a copy at: bit.ly/TRF-Ref-Guide-Z8