• Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Awards $75,000 in Local Grants

    Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Awards $75,000 in Local Grants

    Peace CrewThe purpose of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation, Inc. is to promote charitable and educational purposes within the State of Indiana and such other charitable and educational purposes deemed appropriate by its Board of Directors. To satisfy this goal, the Foundation requests Letters of Intent be submitted from community organizations that wish to be considered a community grant. Learn more about the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and the grants offered.

    In 2013, the Foundation received over 100 “Letters of Intent.” 54 became second phase finalists in July, 2013. They were required to submit additional information by October, 2013 and the five recipients were chosen and notified in November.

    Rotary Club of Indianapolis recognized on Jameson Camp vehicles
    Rotary Club of Indianapolis recognized on Jameson Camp vehicles

    CONGRATULATIONS! On December 3, 2013 the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation publicly awarded grants to the following organizations:

    Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis: $25,000
    CICOA Aging and In-Home Solutions: $25,000
    Jameson Camp: $10,000
    Peace Learning Center: $10,000
    Lutheran Child and Family Services of Indiana: $5,000

  • Our Privacy Policy

    This privacy policy sets out how “Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and / The Rotary Club of Indianapolis” uses and protects any information that you give “Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and / The Rotary Club of Indianapolis” when you use this website.

    “Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and / The Rotary Club of Indianapolis” is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

    “Indianapolis Rotary Foundation and / The Rotary Club of Indianapolis” may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 12/20/13.

What we collect 
We may collect the following information:

    • name
    • contact information including email address
    • demographic information such as postcode

    What we do with the information we gather
We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:

    • Internal record keeping.
    • We will never sell or share your information.

    Security 

    We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.
    Your credit card is processed and directly links to the Authorize.net gateway, a PCI Compliant organization.

    Additionally, we will not share your contact information with any individuals or organization. Your information is kept private and will NEVER be shared.

    How we use cookies
    We do not.

    Links to other websites

    Our website may contain links to enable you to visit other websites of interest easily. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

  • Rotary and Riley Ornament Making, Tree Trimming and Gift Giving

    Rotary and Riley Ornament Making, Tree Trimming and Gift Giving

    Each year, Indianapolis Rotarians donate dollars and gifts for one special day at Riley Hospital for Children. This year was no different and a wonderful and festive time was had by all on Thursday, December 5.

    Pictured from left to right: Autumn, Krista Hauswald (Child Life Specialist), Jessica Bex (Rotary), Scott Armstrong (Rotary), Susie Harmless (Rotary), Melissa Sexton (Child Life Specialist), Brad Moritz (Riley Children’s Foundation).

    Thank you Rotarian John Bragg (John Bragg Photography) for the photo!

  • Local Interact Club Raises Dollars for Relief Effort

    Christel House Academy Interact Helps Raise MoneyChristel House Academy’s high school’s Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis, mounted a campaign to raise money for the relief effort following the tragedy in The Philippines. The Christel House Interact Club raised $574, that students’ donated to the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army teams in The Philippines are providing assistance to the thousands of people affected by Typhoon Haiyan. More than 6,000 people have lost their lives in the disaster and 4 million have been left with unsafe housing. In the attached photo, Interact Club leaders (Charlie, Kylien and Chantel) present a check to the Salvation Army Indiana Division’s Director of Relief Services, Jerry Larsen.

  • 2013 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Report

    2013 Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Report

    Girls with mosaicsOne of about 60 Rotary Club Foundations, the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation was established in 1947 with a $25,000 contribution by Mrs. Isaac R. Holycross in honor of her late long time Rotarian husband. Our Foundation assets are now worth over $6.2 million and the income from the endowment is used to assist Rotarians to give witness to the Rotary philosophy of “Service Above Self”. The Foundation’s Board of Directors made grants totaling $142,867 during the FY 2013 assisting community organizations, club committees and our members to respond to charitable needs in our community.

    Download the Annual Report.

    After many years of giving numerous small grants each year, the Foundation Board has changed our process to give larger amounts to four community organizations three club committees and our unique $1000 member-focused civic entrepreneurship grants. These recipients are listed elsewhere in this report. Our Foundation Funds supported such needs as providing a safer environment for children and homeless adults, clothing for children, assistance for mentally challenged adults and other charitable and educational programs in which club committees and Rotarians were involved.

  • Rotarian, Evan Bedel Named President-Elect, FPA of Greater Indiana

    Rotarian, Evan Bedel Named President-Elect, FPA of Greater Indiana

    Evan Bedel, formerly the Communications Director with the FPA, was recently elected to serve as President-Elect.

    The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the leadership and advocacy organization representing the financial planning community. FPA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who are charged with helping the organization reach its Primary Aim while upholding the organization’s bylaws.

    Evan Bedel has been a Rotarian since April 2011 and has been very involved, recently becoming a Paul Harris Fellow.

    Evan is also a Financial Planner with Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc. Says Bedel, “One of my roles at Bedel Financial is to help young professionals establish a solid financial foundation for the future. This service is designed to progressively guide the next generation of wealth accumulators towards an affluent path. I assist in developing long- and short-term goals, debt reduction strategies, saving strategies, investment advice, life and disability insurance analysis, retirement planning, and more. Another role is to educate the adult children of our clients about the importance of fiscal responsibility. Through this education, I teach them about topics like budgeting, inflation, the power of compounding interest, goal establishment, goal funding, the difference between a Traditional vs. Roth IRA, and more.”

  • IBJ 2013 CFO of the Year: Rotarian, Mark Winzenread

    WinzenreadMark Winzenread’s 33-year tenure at Walker defies the norm.

    “Statistically, you change jobs every five to seven years,” he said. “I’m always a little embarrassed to say I’ve been here 33. I’ve resigned twice. It just hasn’t worked out.”

    Walker, the consumer intelligence consulting firm, wasn’t Winzenread’s first professional job. Out of college, he worked in public accounting but was drawn to the private side.

    “It was frustrating to go to clients year after year, make recommendations, and then see that things don’t change. You can’t force a client to do anything,” he noted. “On the inside, I can make things happen.”

    Still known locally by some as Walker Research, the company does more than research. Its consultants work with dozens of companies on customer retention and growth strategies.

    Read full IBJ article.

  • Day 6, Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – The Final Day – 24/7

    Day 6, Rotarian Debra Des Vignes – The Final Day – 24/7

    “It doesn’t take long in Guatemala to know the papaya stand owner by name, to taste the chocolate water in your sleep, to have tired hands and an achy back. You move along to the beat of the city and you adjust in the poverty stricken villages. In a single day you meet a coffee farmer and a Jade miner and they both welcome you into their home as a best friend would. Together we communicate in broken words. “Okay, okay,” he says. “Si, si,” I say. You worry about asking if they have a baño (bathroom). Am I prepared to walk for miles? The return home isn’t easy. It never is. On the flight back excitement to see family is overpowered by tears of what I have just left behind. I have left behind work that still needs to be done. There is a green plastic bucket that needs to be filled with coffee beans. There are nails on walls of the home that still need to be hammered, and I forgot to hug the Jade Miner. I forgot to tell him that his hard work and his profits will help send his kids to school. I can’t make that promise because I know that he is unselfish. He shares his profits with others because he wants to benefit his entire community. He sees the bigger picture. They all do here. The return home to 24/7; those days are never easy. The mind races, faces slide in and out, conversations surface. It was in Central America where the coffee farmer in the fields taught me to be less rigid with my time. And savor coffee. I mean really let the scent of the beans linger. The Jade miner taught me to stay in the present and keep a razor-sharp focus. The construction crew taught me to hammer away. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake. Our sponsor daughter. Her dreams. My dreams. They intersect. They did along that dusty gravel road in San Rafael. Remember that road with no pavement or water for miles. Do you remember? When I give here I see the change almost immediately. Find your reason. Stop and talk about it. I worry we are all just shuffling through this life.”
    Read more and Follow Debra through her journey, this week.

  • Rotary-Riley Annual Holiday Party A Huge Success

    Rotary-Riley Annual Holiday Party A Huge Success

    Riley ChildYes, the snow outside was frightful, but the smiles and children indoors where delightful. And of course several hardy Rotarians can accomplish much with the reminder of “service above self.”

    Melissa Sexton, (Riley) and her elves had all the ornament kits ready to go, the live band was tuning up and about a dozen Rotarians and family members gathered to host our annual ornament making party for the kids and their families at the Riley Children’s Hospital, Thursday December 5. Our own Jessica Bex was our organizer and beautiful cheerleader.

    As snow and sleet blew around outside we had the privilege of helping precious children, their families and many of their caregivers create ornaments for a beautifully lighted tree waiting to be decorated.

    Back for his second year as “official” photographer Bob McColgin took video and photographs of the event. See the video here or on the home page (scroll down) of the Indy Rotary website.

    Thank you Rotarians – you are amazing members and we are an amazing Club doing good for the community.

  • Rotarians Are Ringing the Bells for Salvation Army

    Rotarians Are Ringing the Bells for Salvation Army

    For years, Rotary Club of Indianapolis members have rung the bell for the Salvation Army.  As you travel throughout the city, please look for your fellow members – you might see them asking for donations to help those in need!

    And, in related news – as the holidays quickly approach, take some time to give back! Select a toy for the children at Riley Hospital, take a tag from the Plea Tree on Tuesday (set up in the lobby before and after our luncheons) and / or send your Salvation Army donations to the Rotary Office.

    Happy holidays!