Screenshot of Rotary Club of White Rock, Dallas’ Facebook page.
Editor’s note: This column has been written by Enid Beverley Jones, Rotary Club of White Rock, Dallas past president and International Committee chairperson. This article has been slightly edited.
On Jan. 29, the Rotary Club of White Rock, Dallas (WRR) celebrated 65 years of service to the surrounding community.
The organizational meeting was held on Oct. 27, 1959, under the auspices of Fair Park Rotary Club, Dallas. The club applied for a charter to Rotary International, adopted a constitution and bylaws, and elected provisional officers and directors. The work began with 23 charter members.
WRR is committed to the vision and mission of Rotary International:
Mission — We provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders.
Vision — Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.
In addition, WRR created its own vision to guide our activities in the White Rock community:
VISION OF WRR
Our vision is to be recognized as the service club that supports youth in our community.
In 2024, WRR hit its lowest membership – 12 members, down from 60 strong in the early years. Yet, we are dedicated to continuing with our work as community builders and collaborators in making the world a better place for all.
Our commitment to youth and community
We have set up and sustained programs, such as the Leonard Molotsky College Scholarship, through which we have carried out fundraising activities to support Lake Highlands High School students. Since the scholarship program’s beginnings in 2007, more than 111 students have benefited. Further, special efforts were made by individual members of our club to support students from Conrad High School with personal funds.
A second program, the Billy Stephenson Scholarship — from a self-sustaining fund — has awarded a scholarship to a student studying engineering at Texas A&M University, which is the sole administration of this scholarship since 1996. In total, WRR has paid out $130,250 in scholarship funds. The money is sent to the relevant colleges and universities for students in our community.
Rotary International Program enhances leadership skills of young people. The goal is to develop these skills while discovering the power of “service above self.” As a benevolent society, we find opportunities for WRR to uplift the young people in Lake Highlands and White Rock. Each summer, we send students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy for a fun camping experience as they garner leadership skills.
Our community efforts are no less impressive. Since 1993, nonprofit organizations have received over a million dollars in grants to help meet their goals. The foundation was set up from the legacy of long-time member Erhard M. Bruhns. Thanks to Mr. Bruhns, we use the income from the investment to assist 501(c)3 organizations to make a significant impact within the community.
In early August 2008, members planted spring vegetables for the Sisters of Charity in an area where there was a deficiency in fresh vegetables. The harvest has been joyfully welcomed in the community. This project is on-going.
We collaborate with St. Patrick Catholic Church in Lake Highlands in serving individuals in their Refugee Program or wherever they need us – distributing the joy of Christmas gifts or serving during Sunday brunch in their refugee program.
Working in tandem with the Audelia Road Library Friends, WRR members have helped to set up periodic book sales. The funds from these sales are mainly used to enhance library service for children using this library
For a few years, we participated in the annual Senior Expo put on by the Dallas Police Department, Northern Division, as we help prepare gift bags and distribute them to participants.
White Rock Center of Hope is another organization with which we collaborate to contribute to the community. This center provides volunteer opportunities for sorting and labeling an assortment of items for distribution to families.
Further, there is The White Rock Rotary Club Lake Cleanup Project, which was initiated around 2008. On most second Saturdays of each month, members can be found cleaning up a patch of lakeside across from “Big Thicket” at the lake. Community members and high school students have been known to join us from time to time.
Another interesting project was “The Little Egypt Project” done in collaboration with the City of Dallas. The City erected a commemorative plaque on Thurgood Street, near the site of the settlement of Black families who lost their homes and land when the area was reengineered.
WRR is also present on the world stage. We have contributed for years to the Polio Plus Project, underwritten by Rotary International, that is dedicated to the eradication of polio in the world.
From 2010 to 2024, we supported an international clean water project in Guatemala. We have joined other organizations to fund specific water development projects in Haiti, Malawi and Nicaragua. We provided solar lamps to schools in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in our effort to invest in human capital around the world. A contribution to the ShelterBox, an international project, was intended to provide even one displaced refugee with the ability to start again with the basic needs of survival.
In 2024, we joined another rotary club in collecting funds to build a well-needed dialysis clinic in an area in Kenya. A dental project in Ghana is another recipient of our funds to give dental surgery and maintenance in areas where such services are scarce.
Please feel free to contribute in any way possible. You can join us on the first and third Monday of each month for breakfast at 9 a.m. at Chubby’s Restaurant on Northwest Highway, or join our volunteer activities in the community.