More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are below literate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.

Promoting literacy and education is one of Rotary International’s seven areas of focus. The Rotary Foundation supports education through scholarships, donations, and service projects around the world.

Rotary’s goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. Rotarians support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.

To implement the literacy goals of Rotary International locally, District 7450 supports a Literacy Committee which encourages clubs to implement literacy projects. The Committee provides ideas, advice and recognition of District Clubs to meet the literacy needs of their communities.

Each year, District 7450 will present a Literacy Award to clubs that have held at least three literacy activities and a Literacy Award With Distinction for at least five activities in the Rotary year. The projects can range from inviting a local librarian to speak at a club meeting to supplying a local school with quality reading material.

Clubs are encouraged to assign a member to be the literacy contact person for their club. The contact person will receive information about other literacy projects in the District and assistant to reach their literacy goals.

Visit the Literacy Award page for ideas and the application details or contact:

Committee Chair, Kathe Sobczak kathe.sobczak@gmail.com