Our Blog

To observe its 40^th anniversary in February, the Rotary Club of Columbia-Patuxent recalled its major accomplishments throughout four decades of fellowship, community investment and "Service Above Self." These include:

• A $12,000 contribution to support Rotary's 1987 initiative to vaccinate the world and rid the world of polio.
• A $250,000 Rotary International Global Grant award to establish HIV testing clinics in Ethiopia. Seventeen clinics were opened that were so successful the government took over the project.  
• Our late club member Cliff Feldwick traveled to Ethiopia to administer polio vaccines to children.
• Rotarians Lon Chesnutt, Ken Solow, Bill Harrison and Dushyant Patel traveled to Colombia, South America to support a boys orphanage.
• A "Walk for Water" project raised funds for well drilling in Africa and India.
• The first Thanksgiving Community Dinner held for senior citizens.
• Members worked for "Christmas in April" to rebuild and repair homes of seniors in need. This continues as Rebuilding Together.
• Reinvention of the Boat Float on Lake Kittamaqundi, featuring creative cardboard boat races.
• Held its first major fundraiser – "The first beach party of the year" – with tons of sand, wooden bridges, a sailboat, and raised money for DARE. Fundraisers continued with themes of "Margaritaville," "Night on the Riverboat" and currently "Tour de Vines.”
• Established the first Interact Club in our district at Hammond High School. It remains active today.
• Contributed more than $2,000,000 to community nonprofits and to international projects.
• Monthly service projects at Grassroots, Community Action Council, Winter Growth, Freetown Farm, Respite Retreats and other local nonprofits.
• Club contributions to the Rotary International Foundation exceed $500,00, supporting programs for quality education, better health, improving the environment and alleviating poverty.
• Installed a Peace Pole at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s Heroes Garden.
• Sponsored a room at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s new Behavioral Health Unit.
• Sponsored the Rotary Rocket Pitch competition at Howard Community College for budding entrepreneurs.
• Dedication of Howard Community College’s Health Sciences Building’s atrium to the county’s Rotary Clubs, recognizing contributions to HCC Educational Foundation.