Projects and Community Services

CURRENT PROJECTS

Vocational Service Awards were presented to Park Ridge businessmen John Barrett-Applications Network and Dave Iglow-Pine's Mensware for practicing The Four-Way Test in their businesses.

Ed McCabe became a member of the Arch Klumph Society as Rotary International.

Under the leadership of Rotarian John Vandenbrink the WHIS-RAD project is now looking to place digital WHIS-RAD units in Guatemala.

The 9th Annual Citrus Drive was organized by Rotarian John Warnimont. Proceeds support scholarships and local charitable organizations.

Fifty kindergarten children at the Donoghue Charter School (University of Chicago) received personalized books. Rotarians Anna Rybak, John Alyn Boryk, Marta Hoover and Club President, Charlotte Ogorek delivered the books in support of Rotary's effort to support literacy.

The Rotary Astros of the Park Ridge Youth Baseball league were supported by the Club.

31 hospital beds were purchased and shipped to Mater Dei Hospital in Zimbabwe.

Support for medical and work trips to Guatemala in 2006, 2007, 2008. Rotarian John Davis has visited Jalapa, Guatemala with the Latin American Medical Providers to provide dental care to the Mayan Indian population of the area. Rotarian Steve Schermerhorn joined the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates Rotary Club on a work trip to Guatemala.

Rotarian Sandy Artisuk joined the Alliance for Smiles trip to China. Children with cleft lips and cleft palates were treated by the dental team.

PAST PROJECTS

The Rotary Clubs of Park Ridge and Laurel, Mississippi are partnering in projects to assist hurricane victims in Laurel. As of 10/20/05 the Park Ridge Rotary has committed to $3,000 to help purchase school uniforms for 38 girls and 66 boys in the Laurel Public school system. As of 10/19/05 there are 21 displaced families from New Orleans, the Mississippi coast, Laurel and Alabama living in Laurel who need assistance.

Participated in the October 2, 2005 Park Ridge-Katrina Benefit in Hodges Park. This benefit raised over $30,000 which will assist ravaged areas in the South.

Individual Rotarians from Park Ridge have contributed to the District 6440 Hurricane Katrina Relief Project. More information is available on the District website.

Dedicated funds to establish a World Health Imaging System for Radiology (WHIS-RAD) unit in Zimbabwe and is spearheading this initiative throughout Rotary District 6440 and other Rotary districts worldwide. Over 80 Rotary Clubs expressed interest in the WHIS-RAD Project during the Centennial Rotary convention held in Chicago during June 2005. The WHIS-RAD website, www.RotaryWhis-Rad.org, is the worldwide authoritative source for information about WHIS-RAD.

Collaborate with Maine East High School in a Mentoring Program designed to assist and encourage students who are struggling academically.

Participate in a reading program at local elementary schools.

Invited students to participate in Job Shadowing on November 18, 2005.

Sponsored a Health Literacy Project with Lutheran General Hospital. This training program will help local health care providers identify individuals with literacy needs, teach basic communication skills, and help counteract the consequences of low health literacy in the community. The Park Ridge Rotary Club approved $5000 for the project and obtained a $1000 District 6440 Simplified Grant to produce and distribute the interactive CD.

Donated three Shelter Boxes to be used in South Asia following the 2004 tsunami. Each 110-pound Shelter Box costs $900 and is packed with supplies that support ten people with a tent, sleeping bags, ponchos, a stove, water purification system, tools and cooking items.

Utilized a $12,500 Children's Opportunity Grant from Rotary International to sponsor Asthma Awareness education for elementary school District's 63 and 64 personnel, families and children and provide nebulizers to schools.

Assisted with funding of Rainbow Hospice's "Grief at School" outreach program.

Raised funds for Park Ridge Youth Campus's day care program for low income families and Avenues to Independence's lawn care program employing persons with disabilities.

Purchased the Park Ridge Fire Department's Hazard House, a fire safety/teaching device used at schools and community events.

Raised funds for the Thor Guard Lightening Protection System and for Park Ridge's D.A.R.E. van.

Financed new furnishings for the Park Ridge Teen Center.

Funded a training video for Rainbow Hospice.

Assisted WINGS, a haven for battered and abused women and children, in establishing a residential facility in Park Ridge.

Raised $60,000 to finance a public playground accessible to all children located at the Park Ridge Park District's Maine Park.

Recognized student leaders at Maine South High School.

Sent an Ambassadorial Scholar to Brazil in 2003 under an $18,000 scholarship from Rotary International.

Hosted international students and group study exchanges.

Raised funds for community projects and charities through dinners and auctions.

Assisted local charities and many other community service projects.

Directed funding for medical treatment centers in New Guinea.

Aided local charities, including: North Suburban Aid to the Retarded, Maryville City of Youth, Park Ridge Youth Campus, MainStay Youth Services, United Ostomy, Park Ridge United Way, Edison Park Home, and Midwest Brain Injury Clubhouse Project.

Raised $65,000 for the Rotary Foundation's Polio Plus immunization program.

Developed a vocational handbook to mentor local students.

Contributed to Hurricane Andrew relief, Bosnia-Herzogovina relief, Ethiopian relief, and Plainfield tornado victims.

Initiated funding and support for impoverished schools in New Guinea, providing books and teaching aids.