Charitable Programs & Donations
Service, volunteerism, and giving back is what Parma Rotary is all about. Some of our community service projects and donations are as follows:
Student Fishing Outing
In May of each year, Parma Rotary sponsors a fishing outing for the physically-challenged students. A group of students, usually 60-80, from the Parma City School District are treated to a day of fishing, fun, fishing tee shirts, and a picnic lunch. Rotarians and Rotary volunteers, teachers, aides, and parents all pitch in for a great day of memories for these special kids. It’s a great feel-good, good for the soul day.
Scholarships
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Scholarship: Two $375.00 scholarships are given to high school juniors, soon to be seniors, to attend a Leadership Training Camp at Hiram College for a week in June.
“Service Above Self” Scholarships: Four $1,200.00 scholarships are given to graduating seniors selected from the 5 area high schools, both public and private, to assist in funding their college educations. The scholarships are basically financial-need driven with community service, special recognitions, extracurricular activities, unusual circumstances, and academics being considered.
Career & Technical Awards Recognition & Scholarships: This recognition is a tribute to those career & technical students who have achieved academic excellence in 18-20 vocational areas of study. They attend a regular Rotary luncheon meeting to meet their Rotary sponsors. Then the following week at a special evening Rotary meeting, joined by family, each student is individually recognized by their teacher and Rotary sponsor and given a medallion and plaque. In addition, four $500.00 scholarships are given to selected students.
Ambassadorial Scholarships: A college junior, senior, or graduate student, who desires to study abroad, is eligible for this $25,000.00 Rotary District scholarship sponsored by Rotary International. Only one scholarship is given annually in our District composed of 56 other Rotary clubs.
Donations
Parma Rotary, through Board of Director approval, makes yearly donations to a number of select local community organizations in need of financial assistance and support which include the following:
Parma Hospital’s ElderCenter
Parma Relay for Life/American Cancer Society
Fire & Safety House
Northeast Ohio Challenger Baseball League
Parma Area Family Collaborative
Seven Hills Salvation Army “Kettle Campaign”
Parma Hts. Food Bank
Parma Health Ministries
Parma Hunger Center
Children & Adults with ADHD
PolioPlus
Parma Panthers Baseball
Parmadale
Schools
Visually & Hearing Impaired Christmas Party: Parma Rotary hosts our “special” students for lunch. The kids give a short presentation and then receive a great Christmas gift from our Club.
Senior Class Officer’s Luncheon: Senior class officers from all five area high schools are invited to join us and be recognized with an opportunity to tell the membership about themselves and their future career aspirations.
4-Way Test Speech Contest: Students from the five high schools are competing to become the local Parma Rotary winner with cash prizes being given. A speech featuring Rotary’s 4-Way Test is given before Rotarians and judges. The top performers are then eligible to participate in the District-wide contest with a chance to win additional money and recognition. The 4-Way Test of the things Rotarians think, say and do: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Others:
C/B/S (Community-Business-Schools) Membership
ACT (Active Communities Together) Fair
Back the Schools Dinner
“Service Above Self” Club/Pleasant Valley Elementary
Partnership School/Parma Park Elementary