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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.
Seven members received Outstanding Rotarian Awards based on their service to the community and club activities. The awards, issued by club President Jay Pennie, centered around the club’s new Strategic Plan and Rotary’s Action Plan.
In 2024-25, the Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill members donated more than 1,000 volunteer hours, raised and distributed $30k+ to 25 local and international not-for-profit organizations. This video highlights some of the activities over the past Rotary year.
Founded in 1995, Chestnut Hill Rotary provides more than 1,000 volunteer hours annually in community service such as: painting the halls at Face to Face Germantown; preparing food and gathering clothing for clients of Prevention Point Philadelphia; purchasing and distributing books to school students; and maintaining the pergola, one of Chestnut Hill’s many urban parks.
Chestnut Hill Rotary has seen significant growth in membership over the past few years. As Rotary Club President Jay Pennie noted, “About five years ago, we were under 30 members. Today, we have 46 members and more in the pipeline. This growth enables us to significantly expand our ability to give back to the community.”
The newest member to join, Richard Newell, Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer, Temple Health-Chestnut Hill Hospital, was formally inducted at the celebration meeting. Newell is a former member of the Pottstown club and is pleased to be back in Rotary.
Pictured, l to r: President Jay Pennie with awardees; Frank Hollick; Sweta Gairola; President Elect, Cathy Brzozowski; Carol Bates; Maxine Dornemann; Tim Sager; and Lawrence Schofer.
Pictured, l - r, President Jay Pennie, Nathanael Barlow and his mother Janeen.
The club also sponsored a local student, Nathanael Barlow, to participate in the The Roger Taylor Rotary Speech Contest, a competition for high school students to illustrate the Rotary Four-Way Test. Students prepare and deliver a five to seven-minute speech. The test is to ask the questions when making decisions: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Barlow, a senior at Pennsylvania Leadership Academy, delivered his speech with confidence. His chosen topic, which challenged the popular notion that “money buys happiness,” won first place and was awarded $1,000.
This year, the club also distributed more than $7,000 in collected donations of food, clothing and medical supplies to organizations to three local organizations that help people in need.
Member volunteers packing donated food for Papermill Food Hub.
“It is unbelievable the amount of food that Rotary members brought and packed,” said Annabel Wulfhart, Founder of Papermill Food Hub, “Each bag was stuffed with food, it’s unbelievable. The families are so lucky to have received this food from the Rotary Club!” The food drive, one of three this past year, was conducted right before Thanksgiving.
Wulfhart, a social worker, started Papermill Food Hub — named because of the building’s previous use — witnessing first-hand the living conditions of some of her clients in Kensington section of Philadelphia. The area is infamous for extreme poverty and the open-air drug market fueled by the opioid crisis. Every week, her team of volunteers brings a box of grocery and pantry items, including diapers, detergent, and toilet paper to in-need families in Kensington.
In addition, Chestnut Hill Rotary conducted a successful warm clothing and food drive for Prevention Point Philadelphia’s clients (pictured above) in honor of Martin Luther King’s birthday and a snack bag donation for the Breathing Room Foundation that serves families affected by cancer. Prevention Point Philadelphia provides an array of services to individuals with dealing with addiction.
Chestnut Hill Rotary utilizes members’ extensive knowledge of the local and international communities to identify areas of need, and together work to improve that community. The club provides more than $30,000 annually through its grant program to local and international charities, funded through successful events such as the Lobster Fest, Trivia and Bingo Nights. Sometimes members just “pass the hat” when and need arises.
Grant funding provided support to build a playground for clients of Life Turning Point of Philadelphia
Recognizing the need for a sustainable, scalable approach to community investment, the club recently established The Fund for Northwest Philadelphia as an endowed resource to benefit the region in perpetuity. The Fund’s focus will be to support nonprofit organizations that deliver measurable, lasting impacts on the local community. Funding requests will be solicited annually, with Rotary members leveraging their deep understanding of community needs to identify areas of greatest impact.
Funding in the local community provided funding for:
The Business Center’s Teen Shark Tank program that builds the capacity of entrepreneurial skills in youth who attend various Public and Charter schools in the Philadelphia area.
Support of a new playground at Life Turning Point of Philadelphia located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia which provides shelter and support for women and their children who are experiencing homelessness.
Funding to the Germantown Faith Communities Against Gun Violence last summer for youths to attend the La Salle University’s Summer STEM Enrichment Camp with a strong conflict resolution component.
B Inspired Philadelphia’s Insight Day for 90 ninth grade students in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia for a life-changing program with Philadelphia Outward Bound.
The Chestnut Hill Garden District for maintenance of Peace Park, one of many lush pockets of parks in Chestnut Hill. Peace Park, located at Germantown and East Mermaid Lane, was renamed in 2019 in collaboration with the International Institute for Peace Through Tourism and Chestnut Hill Rotary to honor the memory of Johanna Sigmund, who was killed in the 9/11 attacks. Her father, John, who passed away in 2021, was a member of Chestnut Hill Rotary and prominent member of the community.
Chestnut Hill Meals on Wheels programs that serve daily nutritional needs of any of our neighbors challenged by illness, disability or age.
Science-based field trips for 4th graders at Emlen C. elementary school.
Struggling families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness through Face to Face Germantown’s comprehensive programs.
Skills, opportunities, and transitional employment for people returning from prison through People Advancing Reintegration Recycle Works’ innovative programs which helps to build safer communities and contribute to stronger families while saving taxpayer money.
Support for Teens Inc., a local organization that connects youth to the world through local and global service programs.
Danny's House which helps women reclaim their lives from addiction by providing subsidized and supportive recovery housing for up to 2 years after completion of long-term addiction treatment.
In the international community, funding provided for:
Support for a new agricultural center at the Bududa Learning Center in Uganda which teaches vocational skills to young adults and provides social services to orphaned children.
A solar battery and inverter for Hope Children’s Home which provides services to abused and neglected children in Guyana.
Multi-Rotary Club support to purchase portable generators for communities in Ukraine who are experiencing frequent power outages due to the war.
The remodel and purchase supplies through the Kuvuna Foundation for the Youth Leadership Center in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Support for Rotaplast International which conducts missions around the world to provide corrective surgery on children who have clef lip and clef palate.
ShelterBox USA’s work that provides emergency shelter to people around the world who are displaced due to natural disasters or conflict.
The club plans to announce additional grant awards to local and international causes in the coming months.
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