Charitible Support by The Rotary Club of Clearwater

Each year, the Charities Committee of the Rotary Club of Clearwater selects worthy local and RI causes to support with funds raised through Club fundraisers. The Annual Kingfish Tournament is the club’s major fundraiser each year and generates most of the funding for the club's charitable projects.

In the previous ten years, the Rotary Club of Clearwater has donated over $500,000 to numerous Tampa Bay area charities through money raised from swim meets and fishing tournaments.

Recently, the Rotary’s Camp Florida Board was given a check for $20,000! These were the funds from March’s Rotary Day at the Horse Races plus the other “tax” days allowed by the State for the track to give its tax collections to select charities. The Rotary camp was one of those selected charities. Thanks to all the Rotarians who worked at the event, who attended and brought family and friends. Your support was instrumental in making this another good year for funding this outstanding camp and its programs.

Recently, Ann Kerr and President Terry Simmons distributed the money we have collected through our fundraising this year to our selected charities: Bay Area Pregnancy Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Clothes to Kids, Deaf and Hearing Connection, Homeless Emergency Project, Lighthouse for the Blind, and the YMCA.

Also funded this year: Belleair Elementary (through District Simplified Grant in conjunction with Belleair Rotary), Good ACTs, Rotary Club of Clearwater Charities Endowment Trust, and The Rotary Foundation.

2011 Good A.C.T. Awards

Sixteen Clearwater families were recent proud recipients of free season passes to all of the City of Clearwater Recreation and Aquatic Complexes. Families were selected based upon the strong character and citizenship of their elementary-school children. Ceremonies were held at Ross Norton Recreation and Aquatic Complex and Extreme Sports Park. In attendance were many city officials, including Mayor Frank Hibbard, family members and members of the Rotary Club of Clearwater.

This event is Good ACTs, a program sponsored by the Clearwater Police Department, Clearwater Parks and Recreation Department, the Rotary Club of Clearwater and local schools. Good ACTS, in existence since 2002, recognizes special youth for their exemplary conduct and helpful attitudes. Each student was recommended by a teacher or an adult, who knew about each child’s attitude and efforts in every day activities.

In 2002, Police Lt. Ben McBride, then assigned to the North Greenwood community, decided that youth practicing good habits of citizenship should be recognized. He saw that many of them were not using the new pool facilities due to the necessary user fees. His efforts resulted in these annual recognition awards for Good ACTs, now in its ninth year. Good ACT's originally was an acronym for "Aquatic Center Time", but later developed into a program providing access to all City recreation facilities, not just the aquatic centers.

Frank Hibbard, the Honorable Mayor of Clearwater, helped Dewey Williams & Lt. McBride honor this year's Good A.C.T. Award winners.


Mayor Hibbard Congratulates a Good A.C.T. Winner as Lt. Ben McBride looks on.	Dewey Williams Announces Good A.C.T. Award Recipients

John Slaughter Explained Rotary to the audience	Andy Burwell congratulated the young citizens

Service Above Self

Members of the Rotary Club of Clearwater believe in sharing with the local community. The saying is true: "To those who much is given much is expected." In the true spirit of Rotary our club is generous with both time & money. The Charities Committee is diligent in reviewing proposals for support each year.