Rotary President Toni Lucas submitted this press release.
When Rotarians attending the District 6420 Conference in DeKalb, IL, on Saturday, November 5, 2022, learned of the influx of Ukrainian refugee children in two Chicago, IL, schools, they sprang into action. The result is that two schools in the Ukrainian Village have received 1000 new books each. The neighborhood schools with Pre-K-to-eighth grade age students have experienced nearly a 40% increase in enrollment, from families fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Rotary Club members donated $10,000 worth of new books, in a one-day fundraising event. Usborne Books and More matched their generosity with a gift of an additional $5000 of new books. Rotary District 6420 and Rotary International leadership delivered 1000 books (20 boxes) to each school, on Monday, November 28.
“I am grateful for the generosity of our Rotary Club members, who made this possible in a single day,” said District 6420 Governor Laura Kann, Princeton, IL.
Rotary is an international organization of business and professional persons united to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary District 6420 is made up of 43 Rotary Clubs located in northwest Illinois. The total membership is more than 1400. River Cities Rotary was founded in 1983.