Our April 1 meeting featured Laura Winkel, CEO of Libraries for Kids International.
Based on a 2018 safari to Africa, founder Roy Austin visited a Masai settlement that needed a library and figured there ought to be a way to solve that need. From that, Libraries for Kids was established.
To date they have shipped 31 cargo containers with 1,456,476 books to 11,036 rural schools in Africa, reaching over 2.8 million children. Their work is creating demand, as enrollment has increased, children come before school to read, national exam scores are increasing and English skills have improved.
Their goal is to reach 10 million students by 2030, and to have a presence in all 54 African countries.
Libraries for Kids International will be holding their 5th annual, and only, fundraiser on World Book Day, April 25: Dreams Under the Serengeti.
The evening promises to be nothing short of magical. We invite you to embark on an immersive journey "to Africa" for the evening, crafted not with travel but with the artistry of dreams, sound, and visuals.
Hold the Date:
Date: April 25, 2026
Time: 5:00PM
Details:
Dress code: Dressy or African Attire
Arrival: 5:00 PM Cocktail Hour / 6:00 PM Program Starts
Seated dinner and open bar
Accessibility: Handicap Accessible
Bid from anywhere! The Online Auction is open to all and will be showcased for bidding during the event.
Regardless of issue, please let us know if something is going on to prevent you from attending our meetings. We have many members who can help, pray, or just call to lift your spirits.
Club Dues Invoices - please submit payment at your earliest convenience. Several Rotarians have outstanding balances from prior invoices - if you are unsure of who you are, please reach out to Don Kensey, Rotary Club of Bluffton Treasurer.
Do you worry about Alzheimer’s? We do not have a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but we must find one. Finding a cure starts with you. Every year the CART (Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust) Fund gives research grants focused on finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.
Have you given to the CART Fund this year? The CART Fund is dedicated to raising funds to provide “seed” money for cutting edge, high impact research in hopes of finding a cure/prevention for Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of the CART Fund is to encourage exploratory and developmental Alzheimer’s disease research projects within the United States. This is accomplished by providing financial support for the early and conceptual plans of those projects that may not yet be supported by extensive preliminary data but have the potential to substantially advance biomedical research. These projects should be distinct from those designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area unless they intend to extend previous discoveries toward new directions or applications.
If you would you like to donate to the C.A.R.T. fund, please scan the code below:
The Bluffton Rotary Club has a YouTube Channel! You will find previous guest speakers and other fun videos, so be on the lookout for more content in the future. All you have to do is create a YouTube account and subscribe...with 80+ current members, we can do better than eight subscriber's!! Link:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8TYzr9_xUE8Jfy-lniTt1A
Did you know ClubRunner is now available on your mobile device app store for FREE?!? Once downloaded, use your ClubRunner log-in. This will give you instant access to our member directory, events, news and other important information. Here is a video that highlights some of the features: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFLu08meAHI&t=12s
