While we're talking trees, Nassau Sunrise Rotarians and Rotaractors plant mangrove trees at Bonefish Pond National Park in Nassau as part of a project to restore the mangrove ecosystem and help protect the coast against hurricanes.

Everyone has heard the adage, “You can’t see the forest for the trees." It’s easy for us to get so caught up in what we are doing and our own projects that we sometimes fail to see how our projects roll up into the big, no really the huge picture of The Rotary Foundation.

Even though we don’t yet have the final numbers from last year, the numbers we do have are quite impressive and they are worth sharing with you now. Because of the hard work we all did last year, The Rotary Foundation contributed to funding more than $88 million in global grants and more than $28 million in district grants worldwide. It’s a great example of how the Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts, changing lives both close to home and abroad. People from around the world are now able to live healthier lives, live in better communities, live in safer spaces and more beautiful places. What we have all accomplished together cannot be understated. Since the establishment of the Foundation more than 100 years ago, it has invested more than $4 billion in changing lives and sustaining projects. All these point back to our mission: The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

District 6900 also had a banner year in 2024/25 and just as we are awaiting the worldwide numbers, we are still awaiting the district numbers, though we should see them very soon. What I can share is that both Foundation giving and Polio giving were up this year and that is always good news. We had 19 Global Grants submitted which was a record for the district. In addition, District 6900 contributed over $69,000 to Zone 34 for Polio Plus. We awarded 59 Community Grants and 7 Competitive Grants. All of this adds up to a very successful year in 2024/25.

Now we look forward to 2025/26. I recently read one of the best quotes I’ve seen in a while and it’s worth sharing here: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” Certainly, the quote fits very nicely with this year’s message, “Unite for good."

When we partner with The Rotary Foundation great things happen. Not only do we see it in the numbers, far more importantly, we see it in the faces of the people we serve and that’s why we do it. Here’s to a new year of Service Above Self! Let’s continue to work together to make our Foundation stronger as it reaches greater heights.

If I personally can assist you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me via cell or email.