Rotary Club of Staten Island Celebrates 100 Years
The Rotary Club of Staten Island is celebrating 100 years. With COVID restrictions being lifted just in time for a celebration that brought Rotarians and guests together for a night of laughter, reminiscing and celebration at Casa Belvedere. The event was Chaired by Eric Campione who was recently installed as President of the Club. The President of the Rotary Club of Staten Island for 2020-21 was Patrick McGrade. McGrade presented Rotary International's highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellow to two past presidents of the Club, MaryJane O'Connell (2019-2020) and Dr. Abdul Rehman (2018-19).
The Rotary Club of Staten Island was organized under the sponsorship of the New York Club in 1921. The Rotary Club of Staten Island was the 916th Club of the Rotary International and the first on Staten Island. In 1962 the Club became incorporated and established its own charitable foundation known as the Staten Island Rotary Foundation. It is the first Rotary Club founded on Staten Island. Since then four other Clubs have been established.
Projects of the Rotary Club of Staten Island
Throughout the years, the Rotary Club of Staten Island has assisted numerous social service and community initiatives that serve to better the community locally and worldwide. The Club, through the Staten Island Rotary Foundation, has funded hospitals, foster care agencies, agencies that assist the aged, the homeless and those living with cancer, youth education, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases. Internationally the Club, through its fundraising efforts, has assisted when disaster has hit both near and far. In the aftermath of 9-11, the members collected and delivered water, food, and supplies to recovery workers. They've responded to hurricanes, tsunamis, and other disasters. The Club has assisted refugees of war-torn countries. The Rotary Club was there after Super Storm Sandy devastated the Northeast helping neighbors while being impacted personally and professionally. The Rotary Club of Staten Island, Hunger Hurts initiative supports the need for food in the Staten Island community by purchasing and delivering food to local food pantries. During the pandemic, the Rotary Club stepped up its effort to deliver supplies and food to its local community by partnering with Amazon to distribute hundreds of pallets of goods to those in need. During the COVID-19 pandemic the Club also participated in the Million Mask Challenge along with Rotarian from New England and New York distributing over 3 million masks in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Maine and Rhode Island
Each year the Rotary Club of Staten Island presents scholarships to graduating youth and college students via the Staten Island Rotary Foundation, chaired for the last 30 years by longtime Staten Island Rotarian John Amodio. The Staten Island Rotary Foundation has given to organizations and individuals over $1.5 million.
Currently the Rotary Club of Staten Island remains committed to its campaign to assist those struggling with food insecurity and asks for donations to the Rotary Club of Staten Island Hunger Hurts GoFundMe Campaign. The link is:
