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Grant Application is Now Closed
Please note that applications for Rotary 1918 Community Service Grants are now closed.
(October 31, 2022)
Please check back in late Summer/ Fall 2023



The Foundation Fund is the heart of the club. It is the financial source for all of the club's charitable works and enables its members to make a difference in our community and around the world.
LOCALLY: OUR FOCUS IS HELPING CHILDREN
Rotary Club of Windsor Foundation Fund has been a large contributor to many local charities. Over the years, we’ve determined top priorities for service projects by first learning about what the needs of Windsor-Essex County were, and then developing responses that addressed those needs. Below are some examples of how our Foundation has been an integral part in helping our community:
EASTER SEALS
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otary Club of Windsor (1918), along with 6 other Rotary Clubs from Ontario, joined in 1922 to address the lack of resources and support for children with physical disabilities. Easter Seals, then called Ontario Society for Crippled Children, was created to see that children received the treatment they needed and to inform the public about children’s health to prevent the spread of disease. Over many decades, our Rotary Club has raised several million dollars to assist Easter Seals children and their families.
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THE JOHN MCGIVNEY CENTRE
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“For over forty years the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) has been actively involved with our Centre. In November of 1965 the Club commenced planning under the leadership of Rotarian Mr. John McGivney for a new facility providing integrated services for children with disabilities. The Children’s Rehabilitation Centre of Essex County opened its doors on June 26th, 1978. The Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) has actively supported our programs, services and equipment needs over the years to ensure that no child goes without service. Again, in 2007 they have come through at a pivotal time of need as the Centre now embarks on a long awaiting building expansion. We must raise $6 million locally to augment the $8 million provided by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services for our expanded facility. The Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) has committed to be our lead donor with a generous pledge of $1 million to our capital fundraising campaign.” – Elaine Whitmore, CEO, John McGivney Centre
CHILDREN’S SAFETY VILLAGE
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MARYVALE ADOLESCENT & FAMILY SERVICES

ESSEX KENT JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION
Essex Kent Junior Golf Association, then known as Essex Kent Boys Golf Tournament, was established in 1928. It is one of the longest running junior tournaments in North America and provides junior golfers an opportunity to learn about the sport, free of charge, and to develop lifelong skills and appreciation. Each year, the winner is awarded with the “Harry Neal Trophy”, Harry Neil being the first president and founder of the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918), and also the founder of the Golf Association.
COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS

“For over 20 plus years, we’ve been doing a soup kitchen during the cold weather. This year, we decided to do a couple of full meals instead of just a soup kitchen, and the reception to it has been fantastic, and the need is just proven by the number that shows up [.…] The Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) has given us a $5,000 grant to start us up, and we’re grateful for that.” Major Paul Rideout, Assistant Executive Director of the Salvation Army
(image courtesy of Dan Janisse, The Windsor Star: https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/salvation-army-begins-offering-hot-meals-four-days-a-week)
INTERNATIONALLY: IMPROVING LIVES
The Foundation Fund has also helped to significantly improve the lives of children and their families internationally. From drilling wells so tens of thousands of people have access to clean water, to supplying Mosquito nets in Africa to prevent Malaria, providing eyesight and building several schools, among many other initiatives, our foundation has had a tremendous global impact. Here are just a few projects our Foundation has been a part of:
ROTARY CLUB’S “MISSION FOR VISION”

WATER IS LIFE – OUR PROJECTS IN GHANA, WEST AFRICA
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umans cannot live without water, and yet many must either travel several kilometers daily to a far-away village to draw water or get it from ditches or ponds, which quite oftentimes carry waterborne disease, such as: cholera, typhoid and dysentery. The solution is to drill wells in villages to provide clean water. Through our Foundation, we have provided wells in more than 30 villages in Ghana, and yet still have many more villages requiring our help. As of 2018, each well with a hand pump costs an average of $6,000 to install. Windsor Rotarian Dr. Bacheyie says that “wells have reduced sickness and disease and have improved life expectancy. They have enabled more children to stay in school, as they no longer have to take time off school to go search for water”.
SUPPORT FOR ORPHANAGE - GHANA
The Sisters in a convent in Jirapa, Ghana, established an orphanage many years ago. Windsor Rotarian Dr. Godfrey Bacheyie and our Foundation have assisted in recent years with funding for infrastructure, supplies and food for the children (between 16 and 24 at any given time).
MOSQUITO NETS: HELPING TO PREVENT MALARIA
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOR NEWBORNS - GHANA
In a small rural hospital in Jirapa, Ghana, premature infants were given a substantially better chance of living in 2016, with the establishment of an intensive care unit for newborns. Funds were provided through our foundation and all the incubators and other necessary equipment were donated by Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor. To date, hundreds of children have been given an opportunity to live and grow. Technical respiratory and other training was provided by Rotary for nurses and midwives. This will continue to improve the maternal/child health in the region.
OUR PROJECTS IN TANZANIA, EAST AFRICA
Fighting Polio
Want to help? You can donate now to any of the projects our Club is currently working on, or leave a legacy by giving the gift of publicly traded securities.