Submitted by: Keith Brokke, District Foundation Chair
 
We’ve just crossed the half way mark in Debra Warner’s year as District Governor.  Each Rotary year at this time, we assess and analyze how our District stands with our District Designated Funds, Polio Plus funding and Endowment.  We have many great projects underway currently that we can all be very proud of, but these projects don’t happen unless we, as Rotarians continue to give to The Rotary Foundation.  
 
In viewing the Annual Fund, Polio Plus and total giving (including Endowment), I was saddened to see that we are down by over $24,414 in giving to the Annual Fund and $23,580 to Polio Plus.  I delved into the report to compare on a club by club basis and saw that while some clubs were ahead of last year’s pace, most were far behind.  In talking with a few of the clubs, I realized they hadn’t done their Foundation drive for the 2017-2018 Rotary year yet.  I know that District 5580 always comes through in the final months to meet our goals, but it is concerning when we’re so far behind at half-time.
 
If your club would like a power point presentation displaying our D5580 projects, please email Rotarian.Keith@gmail.com.  We’ll set a time and date for a club presentation.
 
I just want to let our D5580 Rotarians know of projects we currently have going.  We have funded 14 District Grants which are used for community based projects with $65,184 in matching funds.  We also have recently funded a Global Grant for Superior Sunrise (Paul Frost grant writer) to build a medical clinic in Orkesumet, Tanzania at a cost of $53,445.  In addition the Global Grants below are currently in progress or recently completed:
 
 
D5580 Global Grants in Progress:
 
14.2.19 GG1413321 Water Filters for Haiti (Ely & partners)
15.1.21 GG1421892 Timor Leste Healthcare Equipment (Brainerd)
15.1.22 GG1526144 Human Heart Valve Tissue Bank in Sri Lanka (D5580 Initiated)
15.4.26 GG1531315 Global Scholar Alicia Helion (Williston RC – finaled 09-1-2017)
15.4.27 GG1528256 Sumala, Bolivia Road Project (Duluth Harbortown – finaled 10-17)
15.4.28 GG1528662 Kinshasa, Congo Leg Braces for Polio (Fargo Rotary)
16.2.13 GG1637034 18 Water Wells near N’Djamena, Chad (FM & FF finaled 12-15-17)
16.4.23 GG1640987 Mobile Cancer Screening Van & Edu Nagercoil, India (FM Clubs)
16.4.24 GG1749520 Rajapalayam Rotary Blood Mobile (FM Clubs)
17.2.10 GG1634888 Chennai, India Bone Bank (Gift of Health (Nipigon)
17.3.14 GG 1748867 Meenakshipuram school furnishings & sustainment (FM Clubs)