Welcome
Welcome to the Rotary Club of Woodridge!
On behalf of the Club Officers and Members we sincerely welcome you to our dynamic club.
The Rotary Club of Woodridge is committed to the mission of Rotary which is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through a fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. We assist in developing community service projects that address many of today’s most critical issues, such as youth-at-risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. We also support programs for youth, educational opportunities, and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development.
The Rotary motto is Service Above Self! It is our hope that you will support the Woodridge Rotary Club’s efforts to make a difference in the community and abroad to improve the quality of life for those in need.
Special Announcements:
Woodridge Rotary 14th Annual Mini Triathlon
Chicagoland's LARGEST Mini Triathlon is scheduled for Sunday, August 18, 2013, Early Bird registration is OPEN. Click here for link to Online Registration. For race details go to Mini Triathlon tab at top of page.
The Rotary Club of Woodridge and Woodridge Mini Triathlon support the following races:
Seven Bridges Season Starters 10Mile, 5k & 1 Mile Childrens Run
Sunday, May 19, 2013 (10Mile - 8AM / 5k - 8:15AM / 1Mile Kids -10:45AM)
CARA Certified
For detailed information CLICK HERE.
Downers Grove Park District 36th Annual
DG5 Miler Run
Sunday, June 23, 2013 (5Mile - 8:30AM)
CARA/USTAF Certified
For detailed information CLICK HERE.
Rotary Club of Woodridge - 2013 Service Above Self Scholarship Award
The Rotary Club of Woodridge is seeking applicants for its Service Above Self Scholarships. The $2,000 award recognizes exceptional community services performed by graduating high school student(s) pursuing higher education. The scholarships fund advanced educations at colleges, trade or technical schools. Eligible applicants include all Village of Woodridge residents as well as non-residents where Woodridge is the primary Rotary Club. Two (2) $2,000 scholarships will be awarded.
Click Here to access additional information and application form.
Steve Herron "Making a Difference" Rotary Scholarship
The scholarship is in recognition of former Chief Steve Herron’s contributions to the Woodridge Community Resource Center and the community. Recognizing Chief Herron’s exemplary conduct as a role model for children and his unyielding support of the Community Resource Center, the Woodridge Rotary Club is offering a new scholarship for graduating students who have been involved in the Woodridge Community Resource Center in some way.
The value of the scholarship will range from $500 - $2000 for someone who has been involved with the Woodridge Community Resource Center. The amount any individual will receive will depend on the number and quality of applications received.
Applications should be printed and returned by mail or in person to Woodridge Community Resource Center, 8274 Janes Avenue, Woodridge, IL 60517 by Tuesday, April 16, 2013.
Click Here for more details.
Four-Way Test Essay Contest (Middle/Junior High School Students)
The Woodridge Rotary Club invites Middle School/Junior High School students who are currently enrolled in grades 6-8 to participate in the Four-Way Test Essay Contest.
The Woodridge Rotary Club will award the student of the winning entry a $100 cash award. The student’s school will also be presented a $100 cash award, donated in the name of the student.
For general information, rules and application form - Click Here
Annual Recycling Extravaganza Service Project Scheduled!
This annual community event is scheduled for May 18, 2013 from 8AM to Noon. The Woodridge Rotary Recycling extravaganza continues to be a huge success thanks to the many volunteers, community groups and residents who take the time to clean up their town and recycle responsibly.
If you would like to volunteer individually or as a group, please contact Katy Rush at krush@vil.woodridge.il.us. The Woodridge Rotary is supported by SCARCE who assists in locating resources for the successful event.
The event takes place at:
Woodridge Park District's
Cypress Cove Family Aquatic Park
(8301 S. Janes Avenue, Woodridge, IL)
Click Here for items collected for recycling!
Rotary Club of Woodridge proudly supported the following community events:
VFW Oktoberfest Fundraiser @ Shanahan's of Woodridge, Proceeds benefited Woodridge VFW Post 1578 - Friday, October 19, 2012
(Click Here for event flier)
Jaycee's "Swing Like Mike" Golf Outing Fundraiser in Memory of Mike Szczepaniak @ Woodridge Village Greens Golf Course, Proceeds benefited The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation - Saturday, October 20, 2012
(Click Here for event flier)
West Suburban Community Pantry's "Chefs' Culinary Charity Celebration @ Chicago Mariott Naperville, All Proceeds Helped to End Hunger in Our Community - Sunday, October 21, 2012
(Click Here for event flier)
The Michael David Samel Spirit of Music Fund presents An Extraordinary Evening of Music, Comedy, Entertainment, Fine Cuisine and Dancing with a Caribbean Theme @ Cantigny Golf Club, Proceeds benefited the Musical Education of High–School Youth - Saturday, November 17, 2012
(Click Here for event flier)
2012 Community Coat Drive (Click Here for flier)
The Woodridge Rotary Club in conjunction with other Rotary District 6450 clubs collected approxmately 500 clean, gently used coats, gloves, and scarves for homeless veterans. Coats were distributed in November on what is traditionally known as Stand Down Day.
Stand Downs were started by the Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to provide services to homeless veterans in a concentrated period of time. Homeless veterans are provided health screenings, VA and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals to other service agencies. The first Stand Down was organized in 1988 in San Diego.
In Woodridge, Collision Centers of America and Bess Mocek State Farm are coordinating collection efforts. The Woodridge VFW is also a partner in this effort, as are several of the Rotary club members’ businesses and agencies.
In addition to the drop boxes, Shanahan’s on Woodward Ave. sponsored a Stand Down Coat Drive on Saturday, October 20, 2012. People brought coats for the Drive received a free hot dog and visited with a local VFW veteran.
Special Thanks to Our "Drop Off Location" Sponsors:
Bess Mocek State Farm (7544 Janes Avenue)
Bridgeview Bank Woodridge (3540 Hobson Road)
Collision Centers of America (6823 Hobson Valley Drive, #101)
Dr. Rob Girgis (7350 Janes Avenue)
Illinois American Water (1000 Internationale Parkway)
Shanahans (1999 75th Street)
Village of Woodridge/Village Hall (One Plaza Drive)
Wilton Brands (2240 75th Street)
Woodridge Park District Community Center (2600 Center Drive)
Woodridge Police and Public Works (One Plaza Drive)
Woodridge Public Library (Three Plaza Drive)
Wine Tasting Events (held November 3rd & 10th)
(Click Here for event flier)
Working with WineStyles of Seven Bridges (6430 Main Street, Woodridge), the Rotary Club held two drop-in wine tasting events on consecutive Saturdays: November 3 and November 10. These informal events allowed participants to taste a variety of wines while munching on light snacks that will paired well with the wines. Raffles and basket prizes were available to enhance the fun.
Part of every sale went to help raise funds for the Woodridge Rotary Club. The Club gave more than $20,000 back to the Woodridge community last year through scholarships and donations to such groups as West Suburban Community Pantry, SEASPAR, Family Shelter Services, Walk-in-Ministry of Hope, Sharing Connections Furniture Bank and many others. In addition, the Club sponsors the Woodridge Recycling Extravaganza every spring.
Woodridge Rotary Club is a humanitarian service organization whose motto is Service Above Self. Tickets may be purchased by calling Katy Rush (630-719-4707) or Susan McNeil-Marshall (630-487-2549).
Woodridge Rotary Club Distributes Dictionaries to 3rd Graders
In early September, Woodridge Rotary Club President Gina Cunningham-Pick and other Club members distributed student dictionaries to children in Ms. Vickiela Wright’s third grade class at Meadowview School. While this class was selected to be photographed, every 3rd grader in Woodridge District 68 and St. Scholastica schools each received the same dictionaries. Students were excited to receive their “own” dictionary and enjoyed finding such things as a sign-language chart and the longest word in the English language in their books.
Woodridge Rotary is especially committed to providing needed resources for children in Woodridge. The dictionaries have been given annually to Woodridge 3rd graders over many years. The books are purchased from The Dictionary Project in South Carolina, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 by a couple responding to a need for dictionaries for disadvantaged youth in their state. Project partners now include Rotary, Kiwanis, and other service organizations across the country. Nationally, in 2011 nearly 2.4 million children received dictionaries through The Dictionary Project.
Club Partners w/ Woodridge Park District to Donate Play Equipment to
Kids Around the World
On Tuesday, August 28th Woodridge Rotary Club members volunteered in conjunction with Woodridge Park District staff and Kids Around the World to disassemble existing play equipment at Echo Point Park in Woodridge, IL. The play equipment is being donated by the Park District to Kids Around the World to be refurbished and installed in another country where children and families have been affected by war, poverty, illness, and natural disasters.
Jenny Knitter, Woodridge Park District's Superintendent of Planning & Development stated, "this was a great community effort and saved the District approximately $4,000 which usually goes into demolition and legal disposal of the equipment. The money saved by this effort was reinvested into purchasing more playground equipment for the kids of Woodridge and best of all will also provide the same FUN experience for kids in another part of the world."
As part of the volunteeer service project, the Woodridge Rotary donated $1,000 to Kids Around the World.
Click Here for Woodridge Patch news article recapping the service project.
2012 "Service Above Self" College Scholarship Winners
The Woodridge Rotary Club has selected Ritika Dhawan and Alexa Nakutis as winners of its 2012 “Service Above Self” college scholarship awards. These annual scholarships provide financial support to Woodridge students who have made exceptional service contributions to their community.
Dhawan (shown here with Woodridge Club President John Perry) was honored for her leadership role in the Rotary Interact Club at Lemont High School. Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12-18. Ms. Dhawan participated in the Interact Club’s service projects which included working at the Ronald McDonald House and at the Hope and Friendship Ministries, conducting food drives, providing baby blankets for underprivileged children, and visiting various senior homes. In addition to her Interact activities, Dhawan volunteered in the orthopedic surgery unit and outpatient laboratory at Good Samaritan Hospital and served as a literacy, mathematics and science tutor.
Nakutis was recognized for her volunteer work with the Woodridge Special Events Committee. She has been part of this Committee since the age of six and she began to accompanied her mother to volunteer activities. She has continued to work with Special Events ever since. Her work with the Committee includes helping with the Woodridge Jubilee, Fourth of July Picnic, and Santa Comes to Woodridge annual events. Nakutis also donated 70 hours to Edward Hospital where she worked in the surgery waiting room.
Dhawan and Nakutis will be honored at the Woodridge Rotary Club’s year-end dinner on June 26. Nakutis attended Benet Academy, and Dhawan attended Lemont High School. Both of the winners are Woodridge residents. Each winner will receive a $2000 scholarship to the school of their choice.
