Broussard speaks of good Rotary Foundation does

Past Rotary International District 6200 Gov. Linwood Broussard isn’t the guy to speak on the facts of the basics of the Rotary Foundation.
In fact, he told members of the Rotary Club of Crowley that if they wanted more information on the Foundation, they should attend an August seminar in Lafayette with Greg Landry to learn more about the Foundation, membership and more in the district.
What Broussard can and will speaking joyfully about is the work the Foundation has done and continues to do.
Telling story after story of the Foundation’s impact on the world, Broussard gave a colorful picture of the projects the Foundation has helped turn from vision into reality.
“The Foundation is our window to the world where we are seeing those needs, and we respond,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting.
Broussard explained that he has a “dedication” to the Foundation’s mission. Perhaps that is the reason he speaks so fondly of the work Rotarians do each year thanks, in part, to the contributions made to the Rotary Foundation.
“Every year, we start with a zero balance,” he said. “Every year, we, as members of Rotary, strived to become Rotarians.”
Broussard’s stories of the impact the Foundation has made span the globe. He took Crowley members to the other side of the world to hear of a woman with children left alone and homeless by an ex-husband who chose another.
Divorced and evicted, someone helped the woman fill out a form in order to receive assistance as she worked to provide for her children. She spoke only for a minute to the Rotarians the day she received her home to thank them.
Then, there was the story of the Foundation providing funding for a water well that, in turn, helped saved lives.
“The dedication of money to the Foundation not only changed the lives of those folks, but it was changed right then and there,” said Broussard.
In basic form, he did explain how contributions to the Rotary Foundation work and are distributed. Money sent to the Foundation is kept for three Rotary years before being allocated to projects, according to Broussard.
One half of the money stays with the Foundation for international projects and grants, the other half is sent to the Rotary districts for distribution on approved global and local grant requests.
Crowley has already seen the benefits of local grants in the form of its work with The Welcome House and its children’s literacy and nutrition program – which was officially recognized by Rotary International this year with the Significant Achievement Award.
Broussard encouraged club members to make, and continue to make, contributions to the Rotary Foundation.
“Today, my friends, I’d like you to feel good about the contribution you have made or will make to the Foundation,” he said. “I encourage you to contribute.”