By Satya Mitra and Sanjay Deshpande

Join District 7910 at its Million Dollar Journey Dinner, a gala event in honor of the centennial of The Rotary Foundation, on Thursday, May 25 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Mechanics Hall (shown, below, right) in Worcester. The cost of the Million Dollar Journey Dinner, which is open to both Rotarians and non-Rotarians, is $75 per person, and includes dinner. To register and pay, click here.

To download the event flyer in PDF format, click here

The keynote speaker will be Dean Rohrs (shown, left), vice president-elect of Rotary International, and an RI director for the 2016-2018 Rotary years. The purpose of the charitable, non-profit Foundation, which was founded in 1917, is “doing good in the world.”

Under the leadership of District 7910 Assistant Governor Satya Mitra (shown, above, left) chair of the district’s Million Dollar Journey Subcommittee, and a past president of the Rotary Club of Worcester, the Million Dollar Journey drive was launched seven months ago. In only six months, the campaign raised a total of $1.05 million.

 

"While I loved the challenge, Mitra states, “it is historically known that to raise this amount of money and receive major commitments usually takes two to three years. Traditionally, a project, to raise $1 million - comprised of direct giving and bequests – requires training by a Rotary Zone expert. The adviser and expert on Million Dollar Dinners in our Rotary Zone 32 was Past District Governor Mac Leask, who lives in Fairfield, Connecticut.

 

“Training is meant for 10 table captains, who are given the responsibility to do their best and together raise $1 million,” Mitra continues. “We had seven table captains. Mac was very graceful, coming all the way from Fairfield last November 17 to give us the training and all needed information, to help us accomplish the mission to raise at least $1 million. We are thankful to Mac for sharing his knowledge and ideas with us.”

 

The mission of Rotary’s Million Dollar Journey was to create an opportunity for Rotarians members and friends to give or pledge to the Rotary Foundation’s Endowment Fund a cumulative total of $1 million in the form of one or more of the following:

 

1. An outright contribution - major gift - of at least $10,000 in cash or appreciated stock
2. A bequest of at least $10,000 established through one’s will
3. The designation of the Foundation as a beneficiary for at least $10,000 in a life-insurance policy, including a term policy or a retirement account such as a 401(k), 403(b) or IRA
4. A commitment to donate only $277.78 per month for 36 months - totaling $10,000

Sanjay Deshpande (shown, left), chair of District 7910’s Foundation Committee, has congratulated the district’s Million Dollar Journey team, adding, “Although we have reached the million-dollar target, we are not stopping here. We will continue to bring in more donations and bequest pledges, to add more to the endowment funds of the Rotary Foundation, and continue this journey. Please be generous and support our mission. While 2016-’17 - being the 100^th year of the Rotary Foundation and the very first year our district has launched a Million Dollar journey - is the best year to contribute, the District Foundation Committee will strive to raise pledges of another $1 million during 2017-‘18.

 

 “Let’s all contribute to the best of our ability and, thus, do more good in the world,” Deshpande continues. “When these pledges do get realized, each $1 million in the Rotary Foundation’s Endowment Fund will generate at least $20,000 in district-designated funds for our District and Global Grants programs.”

 

For more information on District 7910’s Million Dollar Journey Dinner, and to make a donation to our Million Dollar Journey Fundraiser, contact either Satya Mitra at 508-641-8441 or satya@thegurutax.com, or Carol Toomey (shown, left) at 978-580-1895 or carolrotary@gmail.com.

 

About The Rotary Foundation

 

In 1917, Rotary International President Arch C. Klumph (shown, left) proposed an endowment "for the purpose of doing good in the world." His vision became The Rotary Foundation.

 

The Foundation transforms gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary International, the Foundation taps into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into Foundation priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.

 

 Strong financial oversight, a stellar charity rating, and a unique funding model mean that the Rotary Foundation makes the very most of every dollar of each contribution. Give, and become a part of Rotary’s life, thus leaving behind your own legacy of doing good in the world!

To watch a 3-minute video promoting our Million Dollar Journey Dinner, click here.

 

 

To listen to a recent 29-minute radio interview with Satya Mitra on 90.5 WICN, during which he promotes the Million Dollar Journey Dinner,click here.