What Do Rotary Clubs Do?

A public schools administrator for over two decades, Cyndy Simms has maintained membership since 1987 in Rotary International. In 2000, Cyndy Simms became the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She now resides in Northern California, where she continues her involvement with the Rotary Club of Foster City and serves as superintendent of the San Mateo-Foster City School District. Rotary clubs act on both the local and global scale. Their primary objective is to make the world a better place by serving the needs and interests of others. Rotary clubs provide humanitarian, educational, and career services for youth and adults, as well as opportunities for international exchange and collaboration. They work to promote intercultural understanding and tolerance. Over the last 50 years, the Rotary Foundation, in partnership with local clubs, has delivered more than $1 billion in grants for educational and humanitarian purposes. Examples of local Rotary club accomplishments include donating books to schools, funding educational scholarships, and providing instruction in leadership skills. Globally, Rotary clubs provide a range of humanitarian services, including donations of medical supplies and vaccines, disaster relief, and critical infrastructure development. There are over 30,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries. These autonomous clubs have more than 1 million volunteer members, known as Rotarians, worldwide. Rotarians are professional and community leaders with strong histories of service.