Historic rains have brought devastating floods to Central Texas, displacing families, destroying homes, and upending lives. While some Rotary clubs in District 5870 in Central Texas were spared, others were hit hard—and the need for help is urgent.

Immediate Past President, jay Pennie was honored by Chestnut Hill Rotary with a $1,000 gift to the club’s endowed fund, a charity of his choice.

Chestnut Hill Rotary members and guests gathered this week to reflect upon the club’s impact in the Northwest Philadelphia community and beyond. The gathering, dubbed Celebrate Our Year Together, highlighted dozens of hands-on service projects supporting the local community and fundraising efforts that fueled charitable giving to 25 local and international organizations.

Two pediatric surgeons from China visited this week’s Chestnut Hill Rotary Breakfast meeting and spoke about their involvement with a Rotary Medical Training Team, initiated by the Rotary Club of Beijing in 2019. The project, funded by a global grant from Rotary International and several Clubs in China, was delayed several year due to COVID and travel restrictions.

On Monday morning, teachers and dozens of students from Eleanor C. Emlen Elementary enthusiastically gathered in the school yard singing and dancing to the Pharrell Williams “Happy” song as the Phillie Phanatic warmed up the crowd.

Three members of Chestnut Hill Rotary received the Outstanding Rotarian award from Rotary International District 7450 Governor, Francy Cross on Thursday evening to a packed house at the Inn of Villanova.

Chestnut Hill Rotary recently made a donation of $2,800 to support Rotaplast International, which helps children and families worldwide by eliminating the burden of cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities.

High school student, 17year-old Nathanael Barlow, one of the three Roger Taylor Rotary Speech Contest finalists gathered with more than 50 youth, community leaders and Rotarians last weekend at the Rise Against Hunger facility to present their speeches.  

Isn’t the internet amazing?  I mean, how else would we know of all the famous people who love to play Bingo?

With great sadness, we recently learned that one of our long-time Rotarians and active member of the Chestnut Hill community, John Randolph “Randy” Williams Jr., passed away at his home on April 9.