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Benzie Sunrise Rotary is a volunteer service club whose 37 members donate their time and resources to help others in the community and beyond. Our motto is “Service Above Self,” and we strive to live by Rotary's Four-Way Test. Our primary mission is to improve the lives and futures of the youth of Benzie County. In the fall of 2010, we began working with the administration at the Benzie County Central Schools, looking for ways to support the schools in educating their students. We are proud of the partnership we have forged with the school district allowing us to serve district students in a variety of ways:
At Benzie Elementary and Middle Schools:
- PoWeR! Book Bags where all Benzie Central students grade K – 3rd are able to select two free books three times a year.
- Reading is Fundamental, reading two times a year to students in all of the 1st grade classes
- Dictionary program for students in all of the 3rd grade classes
- Assisting annually with the Webber Winter Wear Give-away at all three Benzie Central elementary schools.
- Serving as team guides for the 6th grade class’s participation in the annual Crystal Lake Walkabout.
- Serving as small group chaperones during the 8th grade class’s participation in NMC’s Building Tomorrow career experience.
- Purchase of a sound system for the Benzie Middle School gymnasium.
At Benzie Central High School:
- Sponsoring and co-advising the High School Interact Club.
- Chaperoning 10th grade students annually on a college exploration trip to Northwest Michigan College.
- Sponsoring and chaperoning 11th grade students annually on a college & career awareness experience at Ferris State University in Big Rapids.
- Coordinating annually, in collaboration with BEST Benzie County and the Chamber of Commerce, the Career Exploration Day for 12th grade students.
- Sponsoring Benzie Central students at Rotary’s Life Leadership Conference.
- Providing Benzie Bus passes to support student participation in after school activities.
- Awarding three $1000 one-year renewable scholarships to graduating seniors
- Raised $20,000 through the "Back the Track" project for a new athletic facility at the school.
Our Club also supports many other programs, for youth and otherwise.
Locally:
- BACN’s 2023 capital campaign, working at food drive sites, Blessings in a Backpack, and Michigan Works! GED Program.
- Benzie Food Partners pantry in Honor
- Northwest Michigan Food Coalition
- On the ground and financial support of Goodwill Industries’ Food Rescue to ensure food security within our area.
- The Garden Theater’s 2022 capital campaign done in collaboration with the Frankfort Rotary Club
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—Benzie County
- St Philips Baby Pantry
- Whistlestop Learning Center
- Cognition Science & Discovery Center
- Crystal Community Ski Club student programs
- Crystal Lake & Watershed Association
- Benzie Conservation District
- Frankfort Garden Theater capital campaign
- Michigan Legacy Art Park
- Women’s Resource Center – Benzie County
Internationally:
- Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio in the world, we hold Pints for Polio event, a collaboration with Five Shores and St Ambrose who donate $1 per pint sold for a week, with the club matching that, and the Gates Foundation matching 2 to 1.
- Providing funding support to the Traverse City Noon Rotary Club’s Wheels of Hope program (motorized wheelchairs for polio victims in Nigeria)
- Providing funding support to the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club’s Malawi Bicycle Share program
- Providing funding support for the Guatemala Housing Alliance
To support our many projects and programs, our Club raises more than $35,000 annually by organizing and hosting three major fundraisers:
- Benefit Golf Outing
- Bike Benzie Tour
- Lucky 13 Raffle
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