People who come to our events often ask about what happens to the funds we raise through our Car Show, Adventure Van Expo and Golf Tournament. First, we hold the events because they’re a lot of fun and bring our San Juan community together. The proceeds of the fundraisers, combined with generous donations and sponsorships, also provide the funds to do all of our varied service projects.
None of the funds we raise goes towards our meetings or costs to run the club; those funds come directly from our members in the form of club dues. Everything we raise from the events and other donations goes towards our projects. In fact, the funds are contributions to the San Juan Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which is run by members who voluntarily donate their time.
For our youth, SJC Rotary's efforts are like guiding stars. The club's dedication to nurturing leadership is evident in our support for Interact clubs and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), sculpting the leaders of tomorrow. And the club helps fund the great work of California Youth Services (CYS) to provide education, assessment, crisis intervention and counseling related to substance abuse, behavioral and mental health struggles.
Organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley and Creer Comunidad y Familia light the way in education, while programs like AVID and joint projects with the Soroptimist Club empower young women and girls, seeding dreams of a better future.
In the sphere of life skills, initiatives like Active Discovery and Great Opportunities inspire young minds, teaching them not just to dream but to reach for those dreams. In the realm of community projects, SJC Rotary remains a beacon of hope. Support for Family Assistance Ministries offers a lifeline to those grappling with homelessness. This initiative provides not just food and shelter but a path to self-sufficiency, transforming lives marred by despair into stories of independence and dignity.
Another chapter in this inspiring saga is the Shea Therapeutic Riding Center. Here, people with disabilities, including veterans battling PTSD, find solace and healing through the gentle touch of horses. It's a place where barriers are broken, and new possibilities are discovered.
The Friends of the Library, meanwhile, champion the cause of literacy, weaving a tapestry of knowledge and enlightenment across the community.
Our commitment to the military, particularly the Marines and their families at Camp Pendleton. From providing holiday meals to hosting players at our charity golf tournament, we stand in solidarity with those who serve.
Environmental endeavors are equally commendable. The SJC Rotary Environmental Committee dedicates itself to greening the community, from planting trees to creating organic gardens for disabled community housing, symbolizing growth and nurturing.
In Mexico, we bring smiles and hope through the Ensenada Dental/Vision Clinic and firefighting equipment donations, including a fire truck. Our annual Corazón House Build, where we build a house in a single day, symbolizes a commitment to sheltering those in need.
The story extends to Vietnam, where the Friends of Vinh Son Orphanages provide education and care to over 700 ethnic Montagnard children, connecting past alliances with present goodwill.
This tale of the San Juan Capistrano Rotary is more than a list of projects. It's a narrative of a group united in service to others, a testament to what can be achieved when compassion, commitment, and action come together. Each project, each initiative, weaves into this tapestry of service a thread of hope, resilience, and transformative power, echoing Rotary's unwavering belief in fellowship, diversity, and global understanding.
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