International Service

Through International Service, our Rotary Club encourages and fosters the advancement of understanding and good will among peoples of the world. 


We support the Rotary Foundation programs, such as:

Water Resource Projects
Chair: Sandra Galvan

Today, 1.1 billion people - nearly 20 percent of the world population, lack access to safe, clean drinking water, and 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation facilities. Lack of safe water and adequate sanitation exacerbates the spread of preventable waterbourne illnesses that result in the death of about 6,000 people every day, the majority of whom are children! These circumstances are the leading contributors to world-wide povery and social instability. It is for these reasons, that the Paterson Rotary Club will do a Water Resource Project this year, partnering with a Club(s) in another country. To find out how you can help, reach us through our CONTACT US page.


Gift of Life
Co-Chairs: Natalie-Marino Blackmore & Ken Morris

The Gift of Life helps children with failing hearts, all over the world who desperately need cardiac surgery but either do not have the resources to get it, or live in a world where the medical technology is unavailable. Paterson Rotary has sponsored the open-heart surgeries of 14 children. The Gift of Life surgeries are performed at either St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson, Montefiore Medical Center in The Bronx, or Deborah Hospital. These hospitals and their doctors perform these surgeries for only $6,000, plus medical parts. The cost is paid for by Club’s which sponsor the surgeries. The children and their single guardians are flown to America where they live with a host family, supported by the respective club. 

This year, the Paterson Rotary Club intends to save the lives of two children by sponsoring open-heart surgeries. Our Club is also sponsoring the transportation and travel of a physician from St. Joseph's Medical Center on the District 7490 sponsored Medical Mission to Honduras, where 16-20 children will be saved with heart surgeries performed on site.


Rotary International Foundation Giving
Chair: John Susani

We support the Rotary International Foundation's committment to achieving world peace and understanding through local, national, and international humanitarian, educational, and cultural programs.  Many of our members are sustaining members of the RI Foundation, which means, they pledge a minimum of $100 per year to the fund.  Our Club also recognizes members of the Club or community members who make made significant contrinutions or time, talents, or resources by making them Paul Harris Fellows.  A Paul Harris Fellow can be granted upon someone by making a $1,000 contribution to the Rotary International Foundation.

Some of the RI Foundation funded projects include:

Polio Plus - A Polio free world is within our grasp, thanks to the eradication efforts of Rotary's humanitarian efforts. Learn more about the ongoing-effort to eradicate polio from the World at the RI Foundation Website.

Ambassadorial Scholarships - Rotary's oldest project. Since 1047 nearly 37,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad under it's auspices. Today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarship program. Last year, grants totalling over $500 million were awarded. The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries.

Group Study Exchange - The GSE program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange program, for young professionals who are not Rotarians.

World Peace and Conflict Studies Program - The Paterson Rotary Club sponsored Syeda Uddin, a Patersonian for the acclaimed Rotary World Peace Scholar position. Syeda succeeded in being selected and it is a great honor to Paterson Rotary to have sponsored one of 70 world-peace scholars world-wide. Scholars study conflict and peace resolution and international relations at one of 7 Rotary Centers around the world during a two-year master’s level degree program. Syeda has been back to the Paterson Rotary several times to speak about her involvement in conflict resolution. Today, Syeda is an analyst with the Professional Development Program for the U.S. Government Accountability Department in Washington D.C.