Kudos to Cupertino Rotary

Since 1955 the Rotary Club of Cupertino has been collecting money only to give it away almost as fast as it comes in. For that, and other things, it was recognized Friday by the Silicon Valley Chapter of Association of Fundraising Professionals.

In 1957 Cupertino Rotary started a scholarship at Fremont High School and a decade later added scholarships to Cupertino, Homestead and Lynbrook High Schools.

Skip ahead to 1999 and the group was throwing $35,000 for books to the newly reopened Eaton School Library while also providing three kidney dialysis machines to a teaching hospital in Ghana.

The next year $75,000 was used for furniture for the new Cupertino Senior Center, and a few years later $55,000 was used to buy new beds for Camp Costanoan, a camp for disabled youth and adults.

The list is long and the eyes will tire at reading the litany of love and cash given by this service group.

Friday’s honor by the Association of Fundraising Professionals was given to individuals and organizations for “outstanding contributions to the community at the Silicon Valley Philanthropy Day 2011 Awards,” the organization said.

Rotary Club of Cupertino was nominated by West Valley Community Services, which provides an array of services to low-income people and families in Cupertino, and surrounding cities.

"The Rotary Club of Cupertino's impact can be felt both regionally and internationally. As one of the most creative and innovative service groups in the Rotary world, this Rotary's support has benefited a multitude of organizations from Cupertino to India.

“Since its inception, Cupertino Rotary has donated more than $1 million and contributed thousands of volunteer hours to improve education, increase access to healthcare and housing, and enhanced the overall quality of life for our community. Cupertino Rotary's outstanding philanthropy and civic leadership has directly impacted and strengthened the lives of thousands of people and the community," according to AFP.

The honor received was welcomed by past president and the club’s current president .

“Cupertino Rotary, with its 187 members and 56 years in the Cupertino Community, are humbled by this recognition.  With the motto of ‘Service Above Self’,  in the last year the club dedicated over 10,000 man hours and over a quarter million dollars to 100-plus  projects locally and worldwide.  Our members are generous ‘doers’ who enjoy helping our community members be more effective and productive members of society,” Dean said.