The Allentown Rotary Foundation is a Not-For-Profit Corporation providing worldwide humanitarian grants to needy peoples and worthy projects, and educational awards for international exchanges of scholars and teachers and business and professional people. Its objective is the achievement of world understanding and peace through international charitable and educational programs.

The Foundation was established in 1969 to contribute to the betterment of the community. It is the intent of the Foundation to distribute the earnings annually to qualified local charitable and social welfare organizations.

The Allentown Rotary Scholarship Fund, a separate committee of the Foundation, was established in 1988 for the purpose of providing annual scholarships to deserving local students.

Rotarians contribute to the Foundation in any number of ways. Over the years, members have chosen to make a gift on their anniversary or birthday, or to commemorate the birth of a child or grandchild. Others have contributed to honor, or in memory of, a family member, close friend, fellow Rotarian, business associate, or on other occasions of special recognition. Contributors may designate whether they want their contribution to go to the Scholarship Fund or to the Foundation General Fund.

Allentown Rotary Club Committees:

Allentown Rotary Foundation

Serves as stewards of the Allentown Rotary Club's invested endowment and assets, encourages members to become Richard Iobst Fellows, approves funding for grants, scholarships, and various club projects

Badge Board & Hospitality

Welcomes Rotarians to each weekly meeting at the sign-in table, coordinates the collection/accounting of all lunch monies and sends cards for important dates and occasions as directed by the chair. Members facilitate each meeting by filing make-up slips, signing in visitors, and distributing materials to members.

Communications

Responsible for keeping club members informed about all club meetings, events and projects. Activities include sending out emails and announcements, and handling the club's voice mail system. Committee members also write articles for The Rotary Smile, the club's monthly newsletter.

Community Service Committee

Develops and manages the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in our local community, with an emphasis on The City of Allentown.This committee covers the projects and activities the club undertakes to improve life in our local community, with an emphasis Some of the activities include: Community Service Grants; Backpack Buddies; Dictionary Project; Book Drive; Monte Carlo Night at the Good Shepherd; Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army, Romper Day, and many more.

Fellowship Committee

Organizes the various social events we have throughout the year, offering opportunities to get together with fellow Rotarians in a purely social environment, such as after-hours celebrations, mixers, parties, and other outings.

International Committee

Helps to expand Rotary International's humanitarian reach around the globe and to promote world understanding and peace. The committee handles activities and arrangements for the Group Study Exchange.

Membership Committee

Helps our club's membership growth. This committee also ensures that effective policies and procedures for recruitment and initiation of new members are maintained.

Program Committee

Provides informative, provocative, thought-provoking, and entertaining programs for the purpose of enhancing and augmenting the reason to attend weekly meetings.

Public Relations & Communications Committee

Increases the community awareness of the Allentown Rotary Club, Rotary Internationaland relevant activities of local Rotarians by means of news releases and other media. Ensures that the club's charitable activities, fundraisers, notable events, and the work of Rotary in general are adequately promoted to the local community.

Rotary International Foundation / Paul Harris Awards

The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation providing worldwide humanitarian grants to needy peoples and worthy projects and educational awards for international exchanges of scholars and teachers and business and professional people. Its objective is the achievement of world understanding and peace through international charitable and educational programs. This committee works to encourage members to become Paul Harris Fellows ($1,000 contribution to the Rotary International Foundation) in order to support the numerous charitable endeavors of Rotary International worldwide.

Scholarship Committee

The Scholarship Committee works with the Allentown Rotary Foundation Scholarship Fund and the Roger and Louise Mullin Scholarship Fund to provide college scholarships to students from each of the High Schools within the Allentown School District (Allentown Central Catholic High School, Dieruff High School and William Allen High School) The scholarships are awarded based on leadership potential, academic achievement, community service, and financial need.

Youth Committee

Supports and maintains programs that recognize and encourage good citizenship and career development among youth. This committee also fosters and maintain positive relationships with local school administrators and counselors to identify students for Rotary awards and opportunities. Local activities include: Career Day; Camp Neidig; Dictionary Project; Interact and Pool Pals.

Tax Status of The Allentown Rotary Club and the Allentown Rotary Foundation

The Allentown Rotary Club is a 501(c)(4) organization operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare. Donations to the Allentown Rotary Club are not tax deductible, but its income is tax exempt.

DOWNLOAD Tax Filings for the Allentown Rotary Club Foundation (2010)

The Allentown Rotary Club Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation and receives most of its income from endowments, investments and donations. This income is used to make grants to other organizations, rather than being dispersed directly for charitable activities.