District Governor Eric Storberg in Rotary District 7230 (New York and Bermuda) is a great example of a Rotarian, who has made his dream real by helping children to be born without the HIV-AIDS virus. Eric does this because in 1992 AIDS claimed the life of his younger brother Neil, so Eric is very passionate about fighting AIDS. He does so by supporting Rotarian Dr. Stephen Nicholas and his Rotary Club of Yonkers, New York in Eric’s Rotary District. Dr. Steve is an internationally-recognized HIV-AIDS expert, who in 1988 started the Harlem Hospital Pediatric AIDS Program in New York and was its medical director and executive director from 1988 to 2000. This program totally stopped HIV-AIDS transmissions in Harlem from HIV-AIDS infected mothers to their newborn children. After having been successful with the Harlem Hospital Pediatric AIDS Program, Dr. Steve looked at the Dominican Republic, which is the most HIV-AIDS infected country in the western hemisphere. You can read about Dr. Steve on the Internet at the following links:
www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/html/physician/nicholas.shtml
www.familyaids.org/AboutIFAP.htm
www.familyaids.org/FamilyAIDS.htm
The program that District Governor Eric supports is Dr. Steve’s international Rotary Project between the Rotary Club of Yonkers and the Rotary Club of La Romana in the Dominican Republic, which is in district 4066. The Rotary Foundation also supports the project with a matching grant for up to $36,666. In his capacity as District Governor, Eric is contributing $10,000 in District Designated Funds. A number of Rotary Clubs and Rotarians are also making contributions. There is a total of $41,200 in contributions so far with an additional $23,834 that needs to be collected. In addition to Rotary, the following prominent donors are also providing economic support to Dr. Steve’s International Family AIDS Program:
- William J. Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative
- United States Agency for International Development
- Knights of Malta, Coral Gables, FL
- Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, NYC
- Cathedral St. John the Divine, NYC
- Canada Dry Delaware Valley Bottling
- Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
The great thing about the Rotary Mother-Baby AIDS Project, is that it stretches Rotarians dollars to the maximum. For example, a donation from Rotarians of $500 can save a whole family of 4 because it leverages additional donations from other organizations. For example, $500 from Rotarians generates an additional $250 from the Rotary Foundation; this $750 will generate approximately $7,500 from other organizations making it a total of $8,250. How often do we have the opportunity to generate 16.5 times our investment? The answer seems to be, only in Rotary! The other organizations will follow because Rotary takes the lead. If you want to find out more about the Rotary Mother-Baby AIDS Project, you can contact District Governor Eric Storberg, telephone 917-903-0300, e-mail eric.p.storberg@ampf.com, Dr. Steven Nicholas, telephone 212-304-6128, e-mail swn2@columbia.edu and Past District Governor Chuck Katze, telephone 914-633-3790, e-mail chuckkatze@aol.com.
Because donations are made to the Rotary Foundation, they are fully tax deductible in the United States. They also qualify for the following Rotary Recognitions:
- Sustaining Member
- Paul Harris Fellow
- Major Donor
- Arch C. Klumph Society
You can read about Rotary Foundation Recognitions on the Internet at the following link:
www.rotary.org/en/Contribute/DonorRecognition/IndividualRecognition/Pages/ridefault.aspx
The initiative that District Governor Eric Storberg together with the Rotary Clubs of Yonkers and La Romano took regarding the Rotary Mother-Baby AIDS Project is a great example of Rotary Leadership that inspire us Rotarians. Even in our economic recession, compassionate Rotarians in Yonkers, New York, La Romano in Dominican Republic, Saskatoon in Canada, West Palm Beach in Florida and District 7230 are showing that they are still able to save the lives of newborn babies. I believe that such sprit of compassion and service will help Rotary to grow around the world. Nobody has ever achieved greatness in history by being selfish or cynical. Great people in history have always been those, who served others above self. The success story about District Governor Eric Storberg and the Rotary Clubs of Yonkers and La Romano shows that it is possible for Rotarians to make dreams real.
It is time to roll up our sleeves and fasten our seatbelts. The future of Rotary is in our hands!
Yours in Rotary Service,
Matts Ingemanson
Leadership-by-Rotary
No comments:
Post a Comment