Maryville TN Rotary - Five Avenues of Service

The club's most significant and on-going projects have involved a major leadership and support role in the Heart 2 Heart program, which promotes matching grant projects in District 4170 (central Mexico).

In 2011-12, the club is partnering with over 20 District 6780 clubs, several clubs and districts in the southern and central US and Mexico District 4170, and with the Rotary Foundation to provide Global Grants which will support the installation of approximately 60 water tank systems in elementary schools as well as the funding for 13 kidney transplants for young adults and teenagers. In 2010-11, the club partnered with other clubs and districts and the Rotary Foundation in similar grants to provide 40 water tank systems and 8 kidney transplants.

The club served as the international sponsor partner for several humanitarian matching grants with District 4170 and the Rotary Foundation. In 2008-09, the club began its involvement in Heart to Heart with the sponsorship of a medical equipment project that supplied an infant radiant cradle and craniotomy equipment to a large regional hospital which serves an uninsured general public of over one million people. In 2009-10, the club sponsored five matching grants as follows:

1. New ambulance - the purchase of a new ambulance that serves an area with 350,000 residents with no existing ambulance service

2. Kidney transplants - funding for five kidney transplants for underprivileged teenage children and young adults

3. Water tank systems - providing water for drinking, hand washing, and toilet flushing at 7 elementary schools

4. Medical equipment - two more infant radiant cradles for the regional hospital

5. Used emergency equipment - funding the restoration, equipping, and transportation of two used fire trucks, one used ambulance, and one rescue vehicle to two rural communities

In all cases, the club serves as a leader for connecting other clubs and districts. Several different clubs and districts serve as partners in each of these projects.

Malawi

In August 2011, PDG and club member Karen Wentz traveled with four other Rotarians from District 6150 Illinois to a small rural village mission and hospital in Embangweni, Malawi (Africa). The Rotarians worked at the mission and hospital for several days, assisting with well digging, visiting bush clinics and vaccinating babies for polio and other diseases, visiting other local projects, and doing small jobs around the hospital and mission. The club sponsored Karen with a trunk packed full with 50 pounds of medical supplies for the hospital and clinics.

Philippines

Club member Richard Gubatan visits the Philippines regularly, and he has represented the club at several Rotary meetings and service projects during his visits.

Other Projects in Prior Years

The club has supported a matching grant for community water filtering systems in Thailand (sponsored by the Morristown club) and has supported other District 6780 clubs' projects in Haiti, Ghana, and Zimbabwe.