The Rotary Club of Annapolis deepens its commitment to supporting the youth of Annapolis and the surrounding area through a series of education and development programs. The club's initiatives range from scholarships to literacy initiatives, all aimed at empowering young people.
Club President Bob Reedy emphasized the organization's active role in shaping the future of local youth. “The Rotary Club of Annapolis has been actively involved with the youth of Annapolis,” Reedy said. “In addition to our own programs, many of our members volunteer to work with local nonprofits to provide services such as mentoring and tutoring to children. We are investing in supporting their development.”
A key feature of the club's youth efforts is its scholarship program, which provides four $2,500 scholarships annually to high school seniors (including home-schooled students) in Annapolis, Severn and Crownsville. These scholarships are intended to ease the financial burden of a college education. Interested students can apply by April 15, 2024, by obtaining an application form at www.annapolisrotary.org/scholarships.
Rotary Club activities are not limited to scholarships. This includes distributing dictionaries to her third graders in Annapolis and emphasizing the importance of reading and writing. The club has also installed Little Free Library Boxes in Eastport and Annapolis to provide children with easy access to books.
High school students benefit from Interact Club sponsorship, a club that promotes the value of service. Additionally, the club organizes speech-writing contests, provides support for students to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and participates in programs at Annapolis High School to improve students' resume writing, interviewing skills, and financial literacy. .
The Rotary Club's international efforts include supporting youth exchange students during both the academic year and summer programs, and participating as judges in regional ethics competitions. Each year, we support local university graduates with Rotary Peace Scholarships for graduate study in key areas such as peacebuilding and disease prevention.
Funding for these efforts comes from the club's philanthropic events, including the Black Tie & Diamonds fundraiser and Crab Feast grant program. The 2024 Black Tie & Diamonds event will benefit Charting Careers, a nonprofit organization that supports low-income children, youth, and families in Annapolis. Previous Club Feast grants have supported several youth-focused organizations, including Seeds4Success, STAIR, Anne Arundel County CASA, and Friends of Staunton Center Youth Program.
For more information about the Annapolis Rotary Club, its members and programs, visit www.annapolisrotary.org.
