Edina Rotarians Ranked Top in Region for Donations

The Edina chapter of Rotary International was recognized recently for raising more in donations than any other club in central and southwestern Minnesota during the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Local Rotarians raised a whopping $82,154 for The Rotary Foundation—ranking them first among 60 clubs in their geographic district. Rotary International currently has 529 districts spread throughout the world, with more than 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 31,000 local clubs.

“Contributions to The Rotary Foundation make a dramatic difference in the lives of people domestically and around the globe,” said Jody Kern, The Rotary Foundation director for the Rotary Club of Edina.

Among the causes the Edina club was able to support over the past year were: providing safe drinking water to citizens in undeveloped countries through the Safewater Plus project; working to eradicate polio; assisting with an asthma clinic for children in St. Vincent, West Indies; hosting an exchange group from Malawi and an student from Belgium; sending an outgoing exchange group to Brazil, and sending an Ambassadorial Scholar to England.

Contributions made by local members were in some cases matched by funds received from both the group's district and Rotary International.

Edina's Rotary Club meets every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at the . For membership information, contact Membership Director Leslie Kreofsky, 952-929-2569 or leslie@kreofsky.com.