Latest News
2024 Harvest Festival Chicken BBQ

Tickets Available for Rotary Chicken BBQ

It's September and that means Rockford's 48th Annual Harvest Festival is just around the corner.
 
Once again the Rotary Club of Rockford Michigan will be serving a delicious BBQ Chicken Dinner at the Rotary Pavilion on Friday, September 27 and Saturday, September 28.
 
For only $15, the meal includes1/2 BBQ chicken, potato salad, baked beans, roll/butter and beverage.
 
Serving times 11:30 am - 6:30 pm each day (or until we run out of food!)
 
Tickets available from any Rotarian or place your request at rockfordmirotary@gmail.com  
Rotary Youth Exchange

APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED FOR 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR

The Rotary Club of Rockford is excited to again be part of the Rotary Youth Exchange for the 2025-26 school year! 
 
This is a three-year program for students living in the Rockford Public School District. Year one is spent preparing for exchange with a series of learning conferences, year two is the exchange year, and year three is the "rebound" year which includes a conference to debrief from the exchange experience and re-acclimate to home culture.
 
Cost for the program participants is approximately $8,000.00. Youth will be staying with a Rotarian family in their host country which helps keep the cost affordable to families. 
 
To apply, click on the link to complete the application for the 2025-26 school year.  Students applying must have been born after February 1, 2007 and before February 1, 2010.  Applications due by September 18, 2024
 
 
 
Questions?  Contact Jon Loux  rockfordrotarytreasurer@gmail.com
 
 
 
3rd Annual Rotary Rocks for ShelterBox

Fundraiser for ShelterBox Ready for August 20

The Rotary Club of Rockford hosted the 3rd annual Rotary Rocks for ShelterBox at the beautiful Garden Club Park next to the dam in downtown Rockford, Michigan on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.
 

ShelterBox works to support communities in crisis. Right now, over 100 million people around the world have been made homeless by disaster and conflict. ShelterBox is working to change this. By providing emergency shelter and tools for families robbed of their homes by disaster, ShelterBox and Rotary are transforming despair into hope.Their goal is to see a world where no family is left without shelter after disaster.

Since 2012, ShelterBox and Rotary have been official Project Partners in disaster relief.

Donations collected at the event and from sponsors totaled over $5,000!  Donations are still be accepted!  Scan the QR code to donate securely online or by check made payable to Rockford Rotary Club, PO Box 347, Rockford, MI 49341 with ShelterBox noted on memo line.

 

 

 

 
Photo credit:  Paul Jensen
The Reverend Jesse Ray, known for his unique Americana Rock and Roots sound, kicked off the evening of music.  Photo credit:  Anna Sink
Roosevelt Diggs
 
Rockford Rotary President Derek Reed presented ShelterBox Rep Bill Tobin with a check reflecting funds from the 2023 event.
Roosevelt Diggs closed the evening and invited Rockford's own Sean Krampe to join them on stage as lead singer for one song.
2024 Jim Tol Memorial Duck Race Awards Luncheon

Winning Duck Sponsors Honored at Luncheon

The Most Popular Duck, by online voting,was awarded to Dependable Fire Protection.  Their winning Duck was designed by Peyton Gaylord, daughter of the owner.  Joining her to accept the award were Abbie and Afton Scott and Anne Gaylord.  Presenting the award were Rotarian Duck Committee Co-Chairs Erik Luxhoj and Bill Knape.
Great Lakes Hospital for Animals captured the award for Prettiest Duck with monetary voting in the "Feed a Duck, Feed a Child" campaign by visitors to our Start of Summer booth.  Their duck raised $58 to beat out their 163 decorated competitors at this year's event.  Accepting the award are Grace Freels, MiKayla Johanson, Courtney Roberts, Courtney Bohlinger, and Rylee Roberts.
A total of $600 was collected at the "Feed a Duck, Feed a Child" fundraiser for Hand2Hand. An additional $500 donation was made by an anonymous community member to bring the total to $1,100 for the group. Hand2Hand works to combat weekend hunger for local Rockford students.
Traveling trophies and certificates were awarded to each winner in 4 categories.  Taking honors in the big river race were Re/Max United-Rockford as the fastest duck and Edward Jones-Chris Carlson as the slowest duck.
2024 Prettiest Duck Winner

Prettiest Duck in Rockford Awarded to Great Lakes Hospital for Animals

Congratulations to Great Lakes Hospital for Animals on winning the 2024 Prettiest Duck contest as part of the annual Big Daddy Duck festivities. 
 
The big winner is Hand2Hand who helps to provide meals for weekends and extended school breaks for food insecure students because "a hungry child hurts".
 
2024 Fastest & Slowest Duck

2024 Big Daddy Duck Race

 
Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Big Daddy Duck Race!   Fastest Duck honors go to Re/Max United.  
 
The Slowest Duck award winner is Chris Carlson of Edward Jones.
 
 
Thank you to all the businesses and individuals who supported this year's event! 
Take Action to help others in your community.
Build Friendships and Serve Together to impact the world.
Have Fun doing good for those around you. 
                                                               
Donate to our club - just scan the QR code above or click on the QR code image.