Our morning visit to the Benzie Sunrise brought us to the Lucky Dog Grille where a a lively group of Rotarians was gathered. We heard about the club’s emphasis on reading programs in the Benzie County Central Schools. In the fall of 2010, the Benzie Sunrise club began working with the administration at the Benzie Schools, looking for ways to support the schools in educating their students. The partnership they have forged with the school district allows them to serve district students in a variety of ways. President James Drubert told us that they have programs at every grade level in the schools.

 

Of course, the club supports the community in many other ways. The Adopt a Highway, cleaning a 2.5-mile section of M-115, Special Olympics and other programs for those with challenged abilities, and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—Benzie County are just a few examples. These also support international projects such as the Wheels for Hope Project in Nigeria.

 

To support the many projects and programs, the club raises more than $35,000 annually by organizing and hosting three major fundraisers: the Benefit Golf Outing, the Up North Bike Fest and the Lucky 13 Raffle.

 

 

The TC Rotary has been an important part of the community since its charter on May 1, 1920. One of the Rotary Club’s first service projects was the establishment of the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce in 1921. To read more of the history of the club including the discovery of oil on club owned property visit https://www.traversecityrotary.org/page/about-our-club.

 

The club has sponsored other Rotary Clubs in the area over the years. President John Hall says that they are very proud of partnering with Rotary Charities & Rotary Camps and Services to provide value to Traverse City in many ways.

 

Good Works Grants

The mission of the Good Works Fund is to support projects that address unmet needs in established priority areas within the Rotary Club of Traverse City’s service area — primarily Grand Traverse County. Grants are awarded in amounts not to exceed $5,000 to nonprofits organizations doing important work in our community.

 

 

President Richard Raetz said that the club’s local signature projects are Backpacks for Kids and Born to Read / Books from Birth. Since project inception in 2004, Backpacks for Kids has impacted over 20,000 deserving Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) K - 5 students, at-risk teens, as well as special needs students throughout the five-county area providing them with the school supplies they need to be successful at school. The Born to Read / Books from Birth program puts books into the hands of local children ages birth to 5 years old, partnering

with Dolly Parton Library and other local book programs.

 

Our global service project is providing bikes for students in Malawi so they can have transportation to and from school. Many walk over 5 miles one way to get to school. Bikes provide safe transportation, especially for girls. Through the Malawi Bike Project 263 bikes have been provided. Members of the club have travelled to Malawi 3 times to build schools and distribute bikes. Another trip planned for 2024.

 

The club is very active in the Rotary Youth Exchange program and currently has 2 inbounds and 2 outbounds.

 

The club has a large gala in October with a silent auction, live auction, and wine cork pull.

 

The gala raises around $30,000 - $40,000 per year.

 

 

 

We met some members of the Little Traverse Bay Sunset club at one the places they do service projects, The Manna Food Project. President Doug Krusell and the others told us about their support of the local mobile food pantry for those who are unable to travel to regular food pantries. The club regularly fills and distributes backpacks to students with food insecurity.

 

Over the years the club has awarded over $166,000 in vocational scholarships. Club members also ring bells for the Salvation Army.