Celebrating its 99th anniversary in 2022, the Gloucester Rotary has provided $32,428 to local projects, donated $10,825 to international causes, and awarded $5,350 in scholarships to local students since July 1, 2021. The Gloucester Rotary is a diverse group of civic-minded business and community leaders joined in a mission to support the community and the world beyond the North Shore.
“The Rotary motto ‘Service Above Self’ brings us together to make meaningful investments at home in our community and across the globe,” said Gloucester Rotary President, Tracy Arabian, who credits the generosity of spirit shared by the Rotary’s 56 members for making this possible. “These amazing people donate their time, their money, and their knowledge to make the world a better place. It has been a highlight of my life to have served the Rotary this past year as President.”
Local non-profit organizations that the Gloucester Rotary contributed to between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, include: Action, Art for Equity, Art Haven, Backyard Growers, Stage Fort Park Bandstand Concerts, Cape Ann Plein Art, Day by Day Adult Care, First R Reading Program, Fishbox Derby, Fishermen's Memorial Service, Fishtown Horribles Parade, Friends of Council on Aging, Friends of Seacoast Nursing, Generous Gardeners, Gloucester Adventure, Gloucester Education Foundation, Gloucester Elementary PTOs, Gloucester Fireworks, Gloucester High School Interact Club, Gloucester Santa Parade, Harborlight Community Partners, HAWC, Ipswich River Watershed, Maritime Gloucester-Scholarships, Meals on Wheels, North Shore Health Project, Pathways for Children, Sawyer Free Library, SeniorCare Inc, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Stage Fort Park Playground and Bandstand, The Open Door, and Wellspring House.
The Gloucester Rotary’s signature project is supporting the Stage Fort Park Playground and Bandstand. Since 2007, the group has gifted several major pieces of playground equipment to the City of Gloucester. In addition, the group has raised funds to support major repairs and maintenance on the bandstand, including partnering with Precision Roofing Services of New England to replace the bandstand roof in 2021.
In 2023, the Gloucester Rotary will celebrate its 100th anniversary of service to Gloucester and beyond. A major project to commemorate this milestone is in the works.
Rotary International’s motto of “Service above Self” is the basis of the Gloucester Rotary’s support of and involvement in numerous local causes. To learn more, visit www.gloucesterrotary.org or connect on Facebook (@RotaryGloucesterMA). The Gloucester Rotary meets weekly on Tuesdays at noon at Cruiseport Gloucester (6 Rowe Square, downstairs, Gloucester). Guests are welcome. Lunch is served at 11:45am and costs $23 per person.