Where others see problems, Rotary International sees solutions. Our 1.2 million members see opportunities and possibilities in their communities around the world. Rotary clubs are the backbone of the comminties. Summerville is no different. The Summerville Rotary Oktoberfest is hosted by the Summerville Evening Rotary Club and the Summerville Oakbrook Rotary Club as a joint fundraiser. Funds from this event support charities on a local, national and international level and all of them fit into one of these categories: Literacy….hunger….housing….health and wellness.
Want to learn more about Rotary International and the value of joining? Visit our Rotary Tent or attend a meeting. The Summerville Oakbrook Club (#SOBRotary) meets on Mondays at 7:30AM, Wescott Plantation Golf Clubhouse. The Summerville Evening Club (#SECRotary) meets Mondays at 5:30PM at Montreux Bar & Grill.
Dictonary Project
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults. Locally our clubs provide dictionary’s to third graders in Dorchester County schools.
Clean Water and Sanitation
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide due to poor drinking water and sanitation. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We design and build infrastructure that allows clean water facilities. This helps to combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
Alzheimer’s Research
The CART Fund provides funds for cutting edge research to cure Alzheimer’s disease. CART started in 1996 with Rotarians in South Carolina by voluntarily emptying their pockets and purses of change at weekly meetings. One hundred percent (100%) of donated funds go to cutting edge Alzheimer’s disease research. As of May 2018 CART has awarded $7.2 million dollars in 45 grants to recognized US research institutions. With the invention of the debit card, few people collect “COINS” anymore, as a result we gladly accept your debit card and currency also.
Back Pack Buddies
Many children in Dorchester District 2 are ‘disadvantaged’ students, who come from low-income families, or who live in families receiving temporary assistance from state governments. Many of these students suffer from food poverty. The purpose of Backpack Buddies is to provide snacks and easy to heat food to those students identified by the Guidance Counselors that are in need of supplemental food for the weekend (both for themselves and younger siblings). Two to three times a year, the Summerville Evening Rotary Club replenish the schools pantry.