December, 2011

ALLENTOWN ROTARY CLUB DISTRIBUTED OVER 1,300 DICTIONARIES
TO 13 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOR ANNUAL DICTIONARY PROJECT

Allentown, PA, The Community Service Committee of the Allentown Rotary Club has distributed over 1,300 Dictionaries to 44 Classrooms in 13 Elementary Schools throughout the Allentown School District as part of its annual participation in The Dictionary Project.

“The Rotary Club of Allentown has always had a close partnership with schools in the Allentown School District through the Dictionary Project, Pool Pals, our Community Service Grants, Interact and our Roger and Louise Mullin Scholarships,” says Jonathan Epstein, chairperson for the 2011 Dictionary Project. “The Dictionary Project consistently been a favorite service project for our club – we look forward to distributing dictionaries all year long, almost as much as the students look forward to getting them.”

"What is so wonderful about the dictionary distribution is seeing the interactions of our students with the Rotarians, which ultimately create a 'community of learners.' The dictionaries are teaching and learning resources that extend the learning of our students both in and out of school," comments Michele Ryan, Sheridan Elementary School Principal. "We are most appreciative to the Allentown Rotary Club for providing our children with these tools for learning."

This project is privately and generously funded by the Allentown Rotary Club Foundation and has been an invaluable resource for Allentown’s third graders. Volunteers from the Allentown Rotary Club and the Allentown Liberty Bell Rotary Club will serve the following Elementary Schools in the Allentown School District: Cleveland; Hiram Dodd; Jefferson; Lehigh Parkway; Luis A. Ramos; McKinley; Mosser; Muhlenberg; Ritter; Roosevelt; Sheridan; Union Terrace and Washington.

Since its implementation in 1995, The Dictionary Project has provided over 14 million dictionaries to students, thanks to the generosity of participating sponsors. Third grade classrooms are targeted recipients of dictionaries nationwide, as educators have established that grade as the dividing line between learning to read and reading to learn.

The Allentown Rotary Club is one of the first 125 charters of Rotary International (RI). It is a diverse group of professionals representing individuals and businesses throughout the Lehigh Valley. Rotary International is a worldwide membership organization of over 1.3 million business and professionals who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace throughout the world. More information about The Allentown Rotary Club can be found online at www.allentownrotary.org

December, 2011

ALLENTOWN ROTARY CLUB DISTRIBUTES $10,050
FOR ITS 2011 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS

Allentown, PA, The Community Service Committee of the Allentown Rotary Club has distributed $10,050 among five recipients who represent positive strides for health, literacy and vocational training. Those fundamentals are in accordance with the missions of The Allentown Rotary Club and of Rotary International. Primary evaluation criteria specified that recipients must be 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit organizations that are either based in Allentown, PA and serve the people and needs of Allentown; or are based in the Lehigh Valley but also serve the people and needs of Allentown.

Lehigh Carbon Community College (Donley Center): to cover 20 GED fees for scholarship students as part of their Next Steps to Literacy program

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. More information about The Allentown Rotary Club can be found online at www.allentownrotary.org

May, 2011

ROTARY CLUB OF ALLENTOWN ANNOUNCES
2011 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

The Rotary Club of Allentown announced the three winners of its annual college scholarships awards. The recipients are Danielle White from William Allen High School, Beth Kaniuka from Dieruff High School, and Merissa Misiura from Allentown Central Catholic High School. Each student will receive $1,000, renewable for four years of college for a total of $4,000.

Ms. White, a member of the Latino Leadership Club, is an active volunteer at Phoebe Home where she initiated the Adopt-a-Grandparent Program. She will attend Penn State Main Campus as an accounting major. Ms. Kaniuka, an accomplished musician and president of the high school band, plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and major in architecture. Ms. Misiura is a member of the Rotary Interact Club, the Key Club, and Best Friends Forever Club which befriends children from Mercy Special Learning Center. She will attend St. Joseph’s University and major in biology.

The Allentown Rotary Club Foundation commits to awarding a college scholarship every year to a deserving high school graduate from each of Allentown's three high schools. This scholarship program identifies young people with financial need who have demonstrated service to their communities and strong leadership qualities. Established in 1988 with a major capital gift from the late former Mack Trucks CEO Roger Mullin and his wife Louise, the scholarships are funded by member and community donations and a 5K Walk/Run. The Second Annual 5K Walk/Run to benefit the scholarships will be held at the Trexler Nature Preserve on Sunday, October 2, 2011. The goal this year is to have 200 participants. The Morning Call is a major sponsor of the 5K Walk/Run. In-kind sponsors include the Wildlands Conservancy, Trexler Game Preserve, and Lehigh Carbon Community College.

The Allentown Rotary Club, a member of the worldwide service club Rotary International, is a diverse group of professionals representing individuals and businesses throughout the Lehigh Valley. The club meets every Friday at noon at the Holiday Inn in Allentown. For more information on membership, scholarships, or 5K race participation or sponsorship, consult the club website: www.allentownrotary.org.

2011 Allentown Rotary Club Roger & Louise Mullin Scholarship Recipients

2011 Allentown Rotary Club Roger & Louise Mullin Scholarship Recipients with Scholarship Committee

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December 4, 2009