You may know that nearly one-third of Columbia Metro Rotarians are recognized as Paul Harris Fellows.  What exactly does this mean?

The Paul Harris Fellowship is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary over 100 years ago.  The Fellowship was established in his honor in 1957.  A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 or in whose name that amount is contributed.  Every Paul Harris Fellow receives a pin, medallion and a certificate when he or she becomes a Fellow.  This identifies the Paul Harris Fellow as an advocate of the Foundation’s goals of world peace and international understanding.

The Rotary Foundation is a registered charity that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.

Programs the Rotary Foundation supports include Polio Plus – a program designed to eradicate Polio from the world.  It supports Humanitarians programs, including grants to fund club and district service projects – and matching grants for international projects.   The Foundation also supports educational programs – like ambassadorial scholarships, Group Study Exchange, Rotary Grants for University Teachers, and Rotary World Peace Scholarships.