Posted by Jerry Hardy
Our outbound global education grant scholar, Chinelo Nwokem from Texas State, will be in Houston one weekend this month for training with other Texas scholars.  Chinelo is sponsored by the Rotary Club of San Marcos and will be pursuing a graduate degree in Global Health and Development at the University College of London.  Her undergraduate major is microbiology and her goal is to be a global travelling physician.  Hers is a $30,000 grant funded by district Rotarians as part of their contributions to The Rotary Foundation.
Global and District grant funding gets a big boost every year from our Cruise Raffle—in fact about a fourth of what we spend on grants comes from proceeds of your cruise ticket sales.  More ticket sales means more humanitarian and educational projects (like Chinelo’s scholarship) in the district.  Tickets went out in December to most clubs; so, check with your club leaders or contact the Foundation committee if you don’t have yours yet or want more.
 
There are two identical prizes, one for the buyer and the other for the seller, that are basically week-long cruises for two anywhere Royal Caribbean sails.  Winners receive a voucher and contact the cruise line and arrange where and when they want their vacation.   We have the vouchers already and the drawing will be May 2nd at District Conference.
 
The grand event is our January 17th celebration with major donors and bequest society members for raising a cumulative total of $1,000,000 for The Rotary Foundation.  Planned giving with TRF being named a beneficiary in wills was the most used method; however, others donated cash, securities, Individual Retirement Account distributions, with Donor Advised Funds and trusts.  The celebration dinner is a moment in time.  The need is long-term and donors with the capacity to give at this level are genuinely appreciated.  For more information, please contact our major gifts/endowment subcommittee chair PDG Bruce Flohr.