The Rotary Club of Coconut Creek sets its sights on the future
While 2016 was a tumultuous year for many, members of the Rotary Club of Coconut Creek were focused on giving their community a helping hand.
The clubโs 19 members helped build a house for 4KIDS of South Florida and participated in Steps for SOS to benefit SOS Childrenโs Villages. They also helped paint, pressure-clean and trim bushes at Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen. Throughout the year, they continued their sponsorship of the Interact Club at North Broward Preparatory School, helping with a fundraiser for St. Baldrickโs Foundation, a nonprofit organization that fights childhood cancer, and securing a grant for the group.
Recently, they helped pick up more than 100 pounds of trash on a two-mile stretch of U.S. Route 441 (through the stateโs Adopt-a-Highway Program).
This yearโs club president, Ja-Ronn Jones, says the clubโs goal is to build community and unity in the Coconut Creek area. Giving back is an important factor in that.
โWeโve been hosting a barbecue for the Margate-Coconut Creek Fire Department, and thatโs one way for us to give back and say thank you to those guys for their involvement in the community and for the things they do that go unnoticed,โ says Jones.
While keeping its efforts local, the club is seeking to expand its reach.
However, Jones recognizes that the club has been lacking in fundraising, which is why the charter members are starting a nonprofit foundation to ease the donation process.
David W. Mountford, the youth services chair whoโs been a Rotary member for 20 years and a two-time president of the Coconut Creek club, says the goal is for the foundation to contribute to charitable entities for the local community and perhaps internationally.
โMost of the people who are involved in Rotary are either business owners or they work for corporate entities, but the whole idea of Rotary is giving back. โฆ The motto of Rotary is โService above Self,โ and I think thatโs one of the key things,โ Mountford says. โI think everybody thatโs involved in the club believes in those words or they wouldnโt be involved in it.โ
In 2017, the club is also seeking ways to help the homeless and start a scholarship fund, for which Jones sees a community need. As a start, itโs revamping its website and has started broadcasting its meetings.
Jones says the club is also eager to welcome new volunteers or members.
โWeโre always open to anything the community may need that we can assist with, so weโre always open to ideas and suggestions,โ Jones says. โWeโre always open to finding new members. We obviously want members who are focused on community-building first and foremost, but it is a team-building and networking environment as well.โ
Jones says the club also is accepting of those who can contribute time or money but donโt necessarily want to become members.
Adds Mountford: โYou get out of Rotary what you put into it. Anybody who really wants to give back to the community should really check Rotary out.โ
To learn more about the Rotary Club of Coconut Creek, visit rotaryclubofcoconutcreek.org.
