Rotarians uplift our youth in so many ways. Rotarians support education, health care, appropriate youth entertainment, and uplifting our youth in leadership positions. Education is addressed through first grade books called I LIKE ME which is a custom hardback book provided to all of the first graders “feeding into the Conroe High School” which features a special story customized for each child which is about that child, their friends, their pets, and what they like to do. I am one of many who sponsor a school which supports first graders.
The Gullo Automotive Group was involved in one school where the books were distributed by Mr. Tony Gullo, myself, and others, being just days before the Lord called him. Being around youth provided him with vigor and a beaming smile as he handed out these customized books to each of the first graders. Those first graders received a special gift which for many was the first book they actually were given. Those I LIKE ME Books are cherished with many keeping those special books through high school and college.
That special gift was a foundation for their love of reading. The Rotary Club of Conroe sponsors the Girls on the Run program at Runyan Elementary School which uplifts girls as they mature into young women. Rotarians mentor many of our youth in elementary thru high schools. Rotarians like Natalie Goertz who has chaired the mentoring programs for several years at the Rotary Club of The Woodlands lead the way in a cadre of ways to lift those challenged youth into achievers. Rotarians like Dave Bartlow of the Rotary Club of Conroe volunteer hundreds of hours each year to serve with CASA dealing with youth in broken homes. The service of these Rotarians provides the youth in Montgomery County with esteem and a program where they learn to achieve! In high schools across the country, Rotarians sponsor Interact Clubs which is Rotary on a high school basis. Leadership skills and service are honed by these young adults under the care of school sponsors and Rotarians. In January of each year thousands of Juniors in high schools attend a Leadership Camp at the sole expense of Rotarians.
Youth are lifted higher and higher by Rotarians to better serve and lead as a result of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards provided in January of each year. Scholarship for graduating Seniors are provided by Rotarians for College and Technology Schools. Rotary Clubs of the years have cumulatively provided over a million dollars of such scholarships in Montgomery County to continue education opportunities to our eighteen years olds as they grow and mature into young Adults. Rotarians on an international basis have worked together to eradicate Polio worldwide. In the USA, polio was a major crippler until the early 1950’s when the Salk vaccine was made available. Thirty-plus years ago, Polio crippled over 350,000 kids each year. Rotarians have worked to eradicate this child crippler, bringing the demise of Polio all over the world except for Afghanistan and Pakistan where 99 were impacted last year and three so far this year. Rotarians serve our youth in many ways.
If you would like more information on Polio, please contact Ron Saikowski at rsaikowski@comcast.net.
If the full content does not display, visit the article originally published on this site
