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A Tribute to a LegendWayne Cusick
20 October 1943 – 30 October 2019
The Paul Harris Society (PHS) is a special level of recognition of Rotarians and friends who contribute $1,000 or more each year to The Rotary Foundation’s humanitarian, educational and cultural programs.
In 1999, Past District Governor Wayne Cusick created the first Paul Harris Society in District 5340. Wayne had this idea for creating a special group of individuals who made an annual commitment of $1,000 (or more) to The Rotary Foundation. Before that year ended, fifty-five Rotary members signed up to be part of this Society. The following year, that number doubled.
What began as an idea as a program in one District, has now spread throughout Rotary Clubs worldwide and is now responsible for the financial stability of The Rotary Foundation. Today, more than 119 districts around the world have a PHS program with a total membership of more than 25,000.
Effective 2006 – 2007, The Rotary Foundation Trustees adopted the Paul Harris Society as an official recognition program to be administered at the district level. By 2012, the Paul Harris Society had donated $39.1 million of the $110.7 million that The Rotary Foundation received in donations. The program has become so successful that Trustees of The Rotary Foundation adopted the program as an official Rotary recognition program in January of 2013.
All because of this idea that one man had that there may be (are) members who are willing and able to provide this level of giving making both our local communities and the world better places to live.
PDG Wayne on the 30th of October passed away. Let us honor his legacy by making this a banner year for him and the Paul Harris Society by highly encouraging ‘all’ of our members to become Paul Harris Society members. This is easily done by registering at:
www.rotary.org/paulharrissociety or, going to Rotary Direct (www.rotary.org/give)
and selecting the Paul Harris Society checkbox. There you will be able to set up your recurring contributions as well.
By giving from the heart every year, we as Paul Harris Society members support and change lives all around the world.