PRINCEVILLE — George Corrigan knows what makes the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay special. It’s no big secret. Nothing too surprising. Not complicated. It’s called heart. “We have people who really care about this community and this island,” said Corrigan,
PRINCEVILLE — George Corrigan knows what makes the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay special.
It’s no big secret. Nothing too surprising. Not complicated.
It’s called heart.
“We have people who really care about this community and this island,” said Corrigan, two-time past president and 12-year member. “We want to do things that are a benefit to our children.”
The club’s drive, commitment — and achievements — are gaining not only local accolades, but nationwide recognition. Thursday during a luncheon at the St. Regis Princeville Resort, it was presented with Rotary International’s highest award, the Significant Achievement Award for outstanding and significant community service for creating the Adopt a Classroom program.
Winning this honor once is difficult — only 207 of 34,000 Rotary clubs earned it this year. But winning it three times, well, that puts you in rare air. Only 61 Rotary clubs worldwide have won the Significant Achievement Award three times or more since it was created in 1992. The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay is now a member of that exclusive group. It received the award in 2008 for Growing Our Own Teachers, a financial-aid program that has helped 59 aspiring local students become certificated elementary school teachers on Kauai. It won again in 2012 for its life-saving rescue tube program that has been credited with nearly 100 documented saves.
Rotary District Governor Laura Steelquist presented the award and had high praise for the 60-member club. To win the Significant Achievement Award for a third time, she said, was “absolutely amazing.”
“This club, I don’t have to tell you, you all know about what you do,” she said. “We are so proud of you.”
To earn the award, a program must address a significant problem or need in the community, and Adopt a Classroom certainly did that, Steelquest said. In 18 months, Adopt a Classroom raised $314,000 to purchase iPads, update the reading curriculum, provide technical training for teachers, purchase classroom supplies and go on field trips. Nearly 200 individuals and businesses contributed to the project.
“The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, with the support of community partners, has gone above and beyond in helping to meet the needs of the students and staff,” said Sherry Gonsalves, Kilauea School principal. “The iPals4iPads initiative is a great example of helping teachers integrate technology into the regular classroom curriculum and making learning fun.”
Rotarian Rick Cox, creator of Adopt a Classroom, said the idea came when fellow Rotarian Rick Gerding made a trip to Walmart to buy pencils and notebooks for students he was tutoring in September 2012. Cox said the proverbial lightbulb lit up in his head and flashed, “Let’s institutionalize Rick Gerding’s generosity.”
“I want Kauai students to have the same chance at the American Dream as I had,” he said.
During a five-minute talk, Cox praised others for the program’s success, starting with “Angels” who donated funds and tutored in the classroom. He credited Hall of Fame baseball player Ernie Banks, who in 1970 gave Cox an autographed-game worn Cubs cap. Cox sold the cap in 2011 for $500 to launch the program which raised more than $300,000 — a return on investment of nearly 60,000 percent.
“Last, but certainly not least, God, the source of all ideas and all miracles— of which Adopt a Classroom is one,” he said.
The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay received more national notice in the July issue of Rotarian magazine, which has a national paid circulation of around 450,000. An article told the story of the club’s rescue tube program under the headline, “Sentinels of the Surf.”
Corrigan said the club plans to do much more. It’s working with a church in Kilauea to assist with a food program that provides meals for children.
“We just seem to have a knack of identifying projects that have a prime need,” he said.
Tony Motta, another past president and 11-year member, said a key is rallying community support to their projects. It’s why they’ve been able to raise more than $1 million.
“It’s the commitment that once we start something, we’re going to finish it,” he said. “And if it benefits the community, that’s the important thing.”
His wife Sally said the club enthusiasm is contagious.
“When people come and visit us, they go ‘Wow, I want to be a part of this,’” she said.
