Media Room

Brief Overview of Rotary International

Rotary International brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.

Founded in 1905, the mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. Every Rotarian lives the Rotary motto, “Service about Self.” Rotarians contribute their time, energy and passion to sustainable, long-term projects in local communities across the globe. Projects focus on important issues like peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development.

Objectives/Goals for Participation in the Tournament of Roses Parade

Our participation in the annual Rose Parade is perhaps the highest visibility for Rotary promotion in the world. According to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Statistics, in the USA 41.48 households; Internationally 28 million households viewed the parade on television; and, over 700,000 attended the 2016 Rose Parade. The 2016 Rose Parade was viewed in 243 countries/territories. An international public relations project beyond compare.

Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee Tournament of Roses Float Entry

2016-2017 Themes

The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee is proud to submit its 38th consecutive entry in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Rose Parade on January 2, 2017. This colorful traveling dragon carries the six areas of focus throughout the world as shown in the luggage decals and wears a 100 year medallion. This design blends the Tournament of Roses theme “Echoes of Success” honoring those individuals who and entities which have contributed to the success of others with the Rotary Foundation Centennial Celebration theme “Doing Good in the World” which is also the theme of the Float.

The Rotary Foundation’s 100th Celebration Year – 2017

The RRPFC was thrilled to learn that the Tournament of Roses theme for the 2017 Rose Parade is “Echoes of Success” honoring those who contribute to the success of others. Arch Klumpf, the founder of Rotary’s Foundation, said: “We should not live for ourselves alone, but for the joy in doing good for others.” Arch Klumph’s idea for an endowment fund dedicated to “doing good in the world” planted the seed of The Rotary Foundation in 1917. Thanks to his vision and staunch advocacy, and the extraordinary generosity of Rotary members worldwide, that fund has become one of the world’s leading humanitarian foundations.

In 2016-17, our Rotary Foundation turns 100. That’s a century of Rotary members changing lives and improving communities all over the world. And that’s definitely something worth celebrating. Through the Foundation, Rotary members have supported thousands of projects to provide clean water, fight disease, promote peace, provide basic education, and grow local economies. Rotary has also been a leader in the fight to eradicate polio worldwide.

To mark this historic year, the Foundation has set a goal of $300 million, including contributions to the Annual, Endowment, and PolioPlus funds. These funds will empower Rotary members to continue fighting disease, reducing poverty, providing clean water, promoting peace, and advancing economic development in communities all over the world.

“Now is the time to enable our Foundation to serve humanity for centuries to come, by making sure it is financially strong and remains recognized internationally for its good work.”

– 2016-17 Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee

How better to achieve international recognition than with our Float in the Rose Parade which is broadcast to over 243 countries/territories throughout the world.

Float Design

The 2017 Float promotes and celebrates the 100 years of The Rotary Foundation. The Foundation empowers Rotarians to travel throughout the world and create and complete projects which serve people in need in six areas of focus which are: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies. The spectacular and colorful dragon is clearly a world traveler carrying luggage decorated with the six symbols of the areas of focus. The Dragon also is proudly wearing a necklace with a medallion marked 100 for the 100 years of service.

Rider and Outwalker Information

The 2017 float will feature four riders and at least eight outwalkers representing Rotarians who have donated to The Rotary Foundation and have participated in at least one project funded by The Foundation.

Complete biographies and photographs of the riders and outwalkers are available on the Float Riders and Outwalkers.  We are again honored to have as a Float rider 2016-2017 RI President John Germ and his wife Judy!

About the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee

The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee is composed of over 75 individual Rotarians from over 35 Districts and has six sustaining and two sponsoring Districts. The goal of the committee is to promote Rotary International to a worldwide audience by presenting a Float in the Tournament of Roses Parade. This year we are promoting the Rotary Foundation Centennial Celebration of 100 years of Achievement! The committee works throughout the year raising funds from Rotary Clubs and individual Rotarians within USA and Canada, choosing a float design, and selecting the theme for the float that corresponds with the theme for the Rose Parade and Rotary International’s theme for that year. The Committee also works with over 800 Rotary Family volunteers to decorate the float with all organic materials.

The Rotary Rose Parade Float has six sustaining Rotary International Districts. Each pledges a minimum of $6,000.00 or $3.00 per member for the 2017 Rose Parade:

• District 5240 covering Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties
• District 5280 covering Los Angeles Basin ·
• District 5300 covering Southern California and Southern Nevada
• District 5320 covering Orange County and Southern Los Angeles County
• District 5330 covering Riverside and Imperial Counties ·
• District 5500 covering Southern Arizona

The Rotary Rose Parade Float has two sponsoring Rotary International Districts which raise at least 3,000 from District, Club and Individual Contributions:

• District 5190 covering Northeastern California and Northern Nevada
• District 5340 covering San Diego County

Useful Websites for More Information

Centennial toolkit – The Rotary Foundation
Centennial logo and guidelines – The Rotary Foundation
Foundation’s achievements and future spotlighted at Korea
Find resources for planning your centennial celebration
Tournament of Roses