Service Projects

Under the auspices of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, Rotarians around the world participate in and administer a broad range of humanitarian and educational programs and activities designed to improve the human condition and advance the organization's ultimate goal of world understanding and peace.

Our members are actively involved in providing much-needed funding and hands-on work within the local and regional community through a variety of club committees in which they choose to participate.  Through events such as our Ribfest, Mega TV Auction and golf tournament, Rotarians raise funds to invest in programs that address local community issues such as homelessness, hunger, access to education and environmental sustainability.

Local Projects

Children & Breakfast Committee:

Supports children up to 18 years of age who are socially, emotionally, intellectually or physically disadvantaged. Programs and equipment, rather than capital projects or foundations, are supported preferably in St. Catharines and vicinity. These programs may be one time or continually on-going. The Breakfast Programme at Lincoln Centennial School is a project that is supported five days/week by volunteers.

Major Grants:  

This committee meets as needed, or at the request of the current President or Board of Directors to review or place in priority major fund-raising requests of $5,000 or more. Projects such as the Meridian Centre, Performing Arts Centre, Niagara Health System, Hospice Niagara, YWCA and Community Care have been supported through this funding.

Local Community Service:

This program supports local community projects, as they align with the missions and goals of Rotary.  Recently supported organizations include: Westview Centre 4 Women, Bike Me Up Niagara, St. George’s Church Breakfast Program, Yellow Door Theatre Project, Carousel Players, Tomorrow’s Voices, I-pads for Long-Term Care Homes, Ozanam Centre, and Hospice Niagara.
Literacy Committee:
Promotes literacy, and seeks community initiatives to lend support both financially and through club volunteer service. One of our initiatives is The Rotary Reading Program at Lincoln Centennial School where volunteers read to kindergarten children on Tuesday mornings.

Civic Affairs/Environment Committee: 

Promotes projects of civic importance and hosts a Citizenship ceremony every year.  This committee is also in charge of the improvements to the Rotary Tree Park and other community initiatives. 

 

Volunteer with us!

There are many opportunities for you to volunteer with us. We have three major fundraisers every year and a lot of local community programs that can benefit from your help. Email us at office@rotaryniagara.org for more information.
 
Youth Projects
SLAPSHOT is an acronym for Student Leadership Award Program for Students High On Training. SLAPSHOT is for high school student leaders, 15 to 18 years. SLAPSHOT promotes, honors, celebrates and fosters youth leadership. SLAPSHOT is a fun-filled WEEKEND of personal & leadership development activities held annually in April in Ancaster, Ontario.
 
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.
 
Rotary Youth Exchange is an international exchange program open to 15 - 18 year olds who wish to spend up to a year living with host families abroad and attending school in a different country.  The Rotary Club of St. Catharines annually engages in youth exchange programs throughout the world, with youth outbound and exchange students inbound.

Rotaract 

​Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they're sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. As one of Rotary's most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas, Rotaract has become a worldwide phenomenon.
 
How does it work?
All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities' physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service.
 

Interact

Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 14 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community.

 
Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of:
  • Developing leadership skills and personal integrity
  • Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others
  • Understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work
  • Advancing international understanding and goodwill
As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact.