District 5420 Newsletter - February 2026

An evening of gratitude

Our Celebration of Giving Gala

There are moments when a single act of generosity can lift an entire community — when a child’s quiet dream is given a chance, a family finds stable health care, a neighborhood is rebuilt after hardship, an elder finds companionship, and a village gains clean water because someone chose to give for the long-term.

These are not abstract outcomes; they are the wiped tears, the relieved breaths, the resumed work, the first proud diplomas, the steady clinic hours, and the safe playground laughter that pulse through the lives Rotary serves.

On May 2 at the University of Utah, the Legacy Foundation Committee invites you to our Celebration of Giving Foundation Gala — an evening born from those promises, honoring donors who have given $5,000 or more to the Endowment Share Fund and calling others to join us as we strive toward our $10 million goal.

This will be a night of deep gratitude: a plated meal, live entertainment, and a program filled with moving stories of transformed lives — from children finding hope to families regaining stability, from community projects that restore dignity to initiatives that create opportunity across generations. Dignitaries from Rotary International and Rotarians from across our district will join us to celebrate these real human impacts and to thank the donors whose generosity makes them possible.

Please note: an invitation to the Gala is extended only to those who make a donation of $5,000 or more per person in funds or a bequest to the Endowment Share Fund. We respectfully ask those who have already given to dig a little deeper and cover the $250 seating cost so we may celebrate together in full fellowship. Your additional support helps underwrite this special evening while keeping our focus where it matters most — on sustaining the work that changes lives.

If you have been considering a gift, now is the time to act: secure your invitation, reserve your seat, and stand with fellow donors who are building a lasting legacy of service. For donation and RSVP details, please contact the Legacy Foundation Committee member Egor Shulman drfc5420@gmail.com or (435) 619-1317.

Join us May 2 for an evening of gratitude, shared tears of joy, and renewed commitment to the future we are creating together.

With Gratitude and Admiration,

Your friend and District Governor, Suzanne

Our District is on Facebook now!

Thank you, Tanner Manning (Spanish Fork Rotary) and Stephanie Velasco (Midvalley Rotary), for contributing to our Utah Rotary District 5420 Facebook Group page! We love seeing what’s happening in your clubs!

This Facebook page is for everyone—please feel free to share your Rotary activities, service projects, events, and celebrations. Let’s keep showing the great work you’re doing in your communities!

Keep the posts coming! Click here.

District Wide Service Project 2026

Shoes for Orphan Souls

Be part of our first District Wide Service Project for 2026. We are teaming up with six other districts and Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls to provide much needed new shoes.

The Buckner organization assumed leadership of the program in 1999. The largest humanitarian aid project of Buckner International, Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls, has continued to partner with organizations and individuals to collect and distribute new shoes to vulnerable children in the US and around the world.

Why Shoes You Ask

They help prevent health issues
Improves school attendance
Increases self-confidence

Why New Shoes

New shoes last longer
Give children living in poverty something that is theirs.

So here is the deal. The goal is to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes from the six Rotary Districts combined. Our district is committing to collect 2,000 pairs of shoes by April 1st. The shoes should be tennis shoes, any color. Sizes - elementary grade student sizes.

We are focusing on drop off points in northern and southern Utah. More information will be available as negotiations progress.

We are urging each club to start planning your strategy to begin the process for purchasing new shoes as we plan our collection process. If you have any questions please contact me:

David Nelson

District 5420 Community Service Chair

435-773-4212

Special Needs Kids Need Your Help

Unique purpose! Awesome project! Unique timing!

Global Grant for Special Needs Children in Montenegro

Unique Purpose: To show Humanitarian Services of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the power of partnering with Rotary, so they contribute to Endowment-SHARE.

Awesome Project: Our Utah Rotary District is partnering with eight Montenegro Rotary clubs, which are partnering with the Montenegrin Ministry of Education, and hopefully LDS Humanitarian Services, to accomplish two successive Global Grants (GGs) serving special needs children in Montenegro, a country in the Balkans.

Unique Timing: We are advised by our Zone leaders to submit GGs by the end of February, not during March, April, May or June. Why?

Five years ago, Rotary established a “Use your District Designated Funds (DDF) or Lose Them” policy starting this June 30. We will lose no DDF, but many, many districts will be cramming in GGs to beat the June 30 deadline. Rotary Grants Officers will be overwhelmed. We are told to submit early to get our GG approved.

PLEASE HELP!

Please, individuals and clubs, let’s commit as much as possible in the next 25 days, so this Montenegro Global Grant application can be submitted by the end of February! Please tell Jerry Summerhays of your commitments, SummerhaysGS@gmail.com.

The Montenegrin Rotary Clubs have raised $100,000 cash for the project!!

The Ministry of Education asks them to do the project, and will sustain the teaching and the equipment. The grant writer, Milijana Vukotic, President of Rotary Club Budva in Montenegro, writes,

“This Global Grant project aims to improve access to inclusive education for children with special educational needs in Montenegro through the introduction of assistive technologies and structured teacher training. The project will provide assistive devices:

tablets,
specialized keyboards and mice,
Braille printing technology,
screen-reading software with symbol-based communication boards,
and equipment for children with physical disabilities.

In parallel, teachers and professional staff will receive hands-on training to ensure the effective and sustainable use of this technology in daily classroom practice."

Jerry Summerhays, District International Service Chair, SummerhaysGS@gmail.com

Your club's space for news about your International Service projects.

You are invited to use this space to describe your club's experience going abroad to help people in need around the globe. Simply get on the bus and submit your story along with a few pictures to the Newsletter Editor lolabeatlebrox@gmail.com by the 27th of every month.

Let the IRS help you become a

Paul Harris Society member

Paul Harris Society - $1,000 per year to Annual Fund-SHARE.

You don't have to be a millionaire - or even an itemizer - to make a meaningful, world-changing gift.

When you give to The Rotary Foundation, you're helping fund clean water, disease prevention, education, peacebuilding, and local community projects that Rotary clubs deliver around the globe.

And now, there's a timely tax incentive that makes generosity easier for everybody.

Beginning in 2026, taxpayers who take the standard deduction may also claim a 'non-itemizer' charitable deduction for eligible cash gifts - up to $1,000 for single filers (and up to $2,000 for married couples filing jointly). In plain English: even if you don't itemize, your giving may still reduce your taxable income.

A few simple ways to make your gift count:

Give cash or cash-equivalent (credit card, check, online donation) and save your receipt.
Consider Rotary Direct - small, monthly gifts add up to big impact.
If you're near the limit, you can top off your giving before year-end.

https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/major-changes-to-the-charitable-deduction

All giving to The Rotary Foundation is greatly appreciated. Our suggestion is that gifts up to $1,000 go to Annual Fund-SHARE and larger gifts and bequests to Endowment-SHARE.

Rotary clubs and volunteers do not provide tax advice; please consult a qualified tax professional regarding your specific situation.

Egor Shulman

D5420 Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

(435) 619-1317

drfc5420@gmail.com

Endowment-SHARE Invitation to Gala

Celebration of Giving – May 2, 2026

Governor Suzanne and Legacy Fundraising committee have been working tirelessly to build a firm foundation of perpetual project funds for our clubs by promoting Endowment-SHARE giving – both cash and bequests.

The Celebration of Giving evening is a celebration and not a fundraising event – fellowship, good food, entertainment and mingling with Rotary International officers.

It is not too late for you to receive an invitation. The easiest way is to submit a bequest of at least $10,000 to Endowment-SHARE at The Rotary Foundation – email or text Egor Shulman for the correct form. We have an anonymous donor who will match the first $10,000 for up to 50 bequests thus raising an additional $500,000 for our district.

Our recent generous donors and donors to be include Hurricane Valley, Orem-Lindon (Lynn), St. George Sunrise (Ron) and (Rob/Eunice), Salt Lake City (PDG Scott), Sugarhouse, West Jordan (Kelly/Penny), Cedar City (Miriam).

At this point we have more than $1,000,000 in 19 Named Funds and over $2,500,000 in new and existing bequests. More details:

Seat eligibility is $5,000 cash per person or $10,000 bequest for two people to Endowment-SHARE of our district or club Named Fund. If the donor decides to attend the celebration, there is an additional event charge of $200-$250 per person.

The event is at University of Utah Scholarship Room overlooking the stadium.

Let’s celebrate the Legacy of Giving.

Egor Shulman

D5420 Rotary Foundation Chair 2025-2028

(435) 619-1317

drfc5420@gmail.com

Rotary Youth News

Box trailer needed

Our District Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Rotary Youth Exchange, Interact, and Rotaract are seeking a box trailer that can be donated or sold to us at a discounted price. Each of these groups requires storage and transportation of banners, flags, and supplies throughout the district.

Currently, these items are being stored with individuals throughout the district. We would like to have a single trailer for these groups that can be wrapped with logos and information, serving as both storage and transportation, as well as advertising for these four programs.

If you can help, contact John Redd, District Governor 2023-2024

rotarypdgjohnredd@gmail.com

It's time to recruit students for RYLA

RYLA is four-day leadership experience where teens develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving and leadership skills. It’s not just a camp; it’s a life-changing experience where high school students discover their leadership potential and ignite a passion for service.

RYLA – Rotary Youth Leading Awards – is open to incoming high school sophomores, juniorw and seniors. Many local Rotary clubs provide student scholarships. All clubs can recruit participants through their Interact clubs and high schools.

RYLA will be held from Wednesday, June 24 to Saturday, June 27 at Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, UT.

The deadline for students to apply is Wednesday, April 1^st.

Student applications are located at www.IsMyRotaryClub.org/App/?ID=346 or the above QR code

Adult facilitators are also needed. See the volunteer flyer below.

Sydney H. King, RYLA

Rotary District 5420, District Governor Nominee

5420.ryla@gmail.com

RYLA Facilitator Recruitment Flyer

Check out Rotary's beautiful Tournament of Roses float

In December the St. George Sunrise Rotary Club had the incredible opportunity to help create a small part of the Rotary float for the Rose Parade. We are so grateful for the amazing Interact youth who participated and for the Rotarians who also jumped in to help. Being part of something this meaningful—working together, serving, and creating joy on a national stage—is truly special. Thank you to everyone who made this experience unforgettable. Rotary truly connects the world.

Let's Talk Peace this month.

The way we communicate with ourselves and others determines the inner peace we experience. And we cannot create peace in our world until we strive to make our own lives peaceful.

Kris Swanson, District Peace Chair, has created a follow-up session to the Create Your Piece of Peace presentation offered to clubs last year.

Invite Kris to speak at your club. Both Let's Talk Peace and Create Your Piece of Peace are available!

Email Kris@kristinaswanson.com to schedule your club presentation today.

Rotary International Peace Fellowships

Recruit candidates you know

Each year, Rotary International awards up to 130 fully-funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of Rotary’s peace centers.

Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers program develops the capacity of professionals to become effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.

Applications open in just a few short months, so it's time to start recruiting interested individuals.

More information may be found here or by contacting Kris Swanson, District Peace Chair. All applicants from our District will work with Kris and a District Committee to complete their application. Successful candidates start early!

Kris Swanson District Peace Chair

kris@kristinaswanson.com

Upcoming Events in the District & the World

Order fresh oranges to benefit children in need

The Rotary Club of Orem-Lindon is once again offering their popular California tree-ripened navel oranges and naturally sweet Oro Blanco grapefruit. Freshly picked and delivered at peak flavor, these citrus favorites are a delicious way to support our community.

Full boxes are available for $50 ($1.25/lb) and half boxes for $28 ($1.40/lb).

Thanks to last year’s citrus sale, our club provided more than 600 winter coats to children in need.

Orders are due by February 13. Payment options include check, cash, or Zeffy online shopping cart. We expect the oranges to be delivered near the end of February and you will be contacted to arrange pickup location and time.

Thank you for helping Orem-Lindon turn fresh fruit into meaningful impact.

Shopping cart: https://bit.ly/oremoranges

An Evening of Elegance March 14th

Unite for Good Around the World

The St. George Sunrise Rotary Club invites our Rotary District family to come together in support of An Evening of Elegance, a night of fellowship, service, and impact. This year’s theme, “Unite for Good Around the World,” reflects Rotary’s shared mission and the power of clubs supporting one another.

Set in beautiful Southern Utah, this elegant evening will take place on Saturday, March 14 at 5:30 pm at the Dixie Convention Center – Garden Room. The event will feature dinner and a fundraiser benefiting meaningful local causes including Backpacks for Kids, PAWS, and Search & Rescue. Your attendance, sponsorship, or donation directly supports St. George Sunrise Rotary and strengthens the collective impact of our district.

When we unite as a district, our impact multiplies. We hope you’ll join us for this special evening.

A special thank you to our major sponsors, Paramount Tax & Accounting and Infinite Solutions Inc.

Tickets & donations https://live.givebutter.com/c/StGeorgeSunriseRotary

Don't miss the 2026 Rotary International Convention!

Connect with Rotary members from around the world as we unite for good in Taipei City, Taiwan, for the Rotary International Convention, June, 13-17, 2026.

The convention is a unique opportunity to learn, collaborate, and be inspired in a vibrant city rich in culture, iconic landmarks, and culinary delights. This transformative event is your opportunity to renew relationships made at previous conventions, create new ones, and share with like-minded changemakers the exciting work that your club is doing.

The Rotary International Convention is our biggest event of the year! Learn more and register today at convention.rotary.org.

The Club Hub

Get ideas, support other clubs! Send your service projects & fundraisers to

Newsletter Editor Lola Beatlebrox for this monthly section of the newsletter.

On the early morning of January 20th, Cache Valley Morning Rotary went to the Cache Valley Food Pantry and sorted food. This is a service project we do twice a year and it is a club favorite! Our club donated $1,000 to help the local food pantry to fulfill the needs of the community. We have extended our welcome to involve the Logan Rotary Club and had one participant! This is a fun activity that even our Interact Clubs take part in as well!

The Rotary Club of Logan presented 2025 Rotarian of the Year to Jay Black at our Christmas Dinner Party on December 11. Jay has been a member of the club since 2003 and has served on many committees and was President of the Club in 2021-2022.

In December, the Utah State University Rotaract Club organized and ran a fundraiser to raise funds for our upcoming humanitarian trip to Costa Rica.

Three different bands played live music and a raffle through local business donations! We also had a thrift curated pop-up booth to sell clothing to raise some extra funds.

Overall, it was a very fun event and we raised about $475 to help go toward some expenses for the trip. We got both USU students as well as people within the community to come and participate. The raffle included various gift cards, gift kits, artwork, and services.

The Multicultural Rotary Club of Utah successfully held its Sharing Love Christmas Homeless Project on December 20 at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City. This marked our fifth consecutive year hosting this humanitarian event, which is dedicated to serving our local homeless community during the Christmas season. With the help of other Rotary clubs, we serve over 120 individuals experiencing homelessness. More importantly, the project brought joy, dignity, and the spirit of Christmas to those we served. The Sharing Love Christmas Homeless Project was truly a huge success, demonstrating the power of service, unity, and compassion within our Rotarian community.

The highlight of St. George Rotary’s holiday season was our 5th annual “Rotary Rudolph Run” to the tribal community of Halchita, UT where Rotarian James Jackson and friends delivered 27 refurbished bicycles, 82 hams, and more than $7,500 in other purchased and donated gifts to Halchita’s 200+ residents.

Our January ended with final approval of our updated bylaws; kicking off one of our most popular annual fundraisers - with a goal to sell 250 cases of sweet, delicious California oranges

We also celebrated 95 years of doing good in the world, with many past presidents and former members in attendance … and cake!

In January 10 members of the Utah Valley University Rotaract Club commemorated Martin Luther King Jr Day by serving local communities in Utah County. This service project was also supported by the Utah Valley University Clubs association. Focused on assembling hygiene kits for local populations, it was an opportunity for Rotaractors to get connected to student engagement and service leadership through its partnership with the local Orem-Lindon Rotary Club. A total of 50 hygiene kits were assembled and donated to community organizations that directly support refugees and individuals experiencing housing insecurity in Utah County.

Members of the Spanish Fork Rotary Club were enlightened by our club member, Luke Marvin, an owner at Sandstone Psychology. He brought much-needed awareness to our club, which needs to be taken to the rest of the state. Luke is a licensed psychologist, whose clinic is “built on compassion for the human experience. We believe all people are deserving of healing and capable of change.” Sandstone Psychology is unique because they have experienced substantial business growth in a short amount of time, but in very rural areas of Utah – the most underserved yet most needy areas for these kinds of services. These rural areas face significantly higher suicide rates due to isolation and cultural stigmas.

Hurricane Valley Rotary is hot into preparations for their annual Easter Car Show Fundraiser on April 4 in downtown Hurricane.

The event serves as a major service project building a strong sense of community to local residents, and supports the area’s attractiveness as a major tourist destination.

Proceeds from the show support the club’s other service projects and extensive support for the community. Youth mental health is a major emphasis for the club, and the club hopes to use some of the funds to partner with the city for a Mental Health Fair this fall.

More information is on the Easter Car Show’s Facebook page and website. Just search on Easter Car Show!

The Sugarhouse Rotary Club had wonderful guest speakers over the last two months. Wilson Liebering is an adjunct professor at the University of Utah. He Is head of Costume Crafts at the Pioneer Theater Company. Hay Soe is on the staff of Youthlinc as the Real Life Program Director. He works with refugee and at-risk populations to teach them life skills such as financial literacy. Jeff Driggs and other members have done a lot of great work arranging speakers For more information about having them speak at your club contact Darrel Thompson at dthompson5311@gmail.com

Every year the Park City Sunrise Rotary Club partners with Holy Cross Ministries to host their holiday celebration for working families.

This year’s event took the form of a breakfast for 30 families at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Santa was on hand to give each family vouchers to buy gifts at Walmart.

Again this year, the Murray Rotary Club sponsored a pizza party and magic show for the Murray Boys and Girls Club. This annual tradition was very well received by the 150 attendees.

The 50-minute magic show spell-bounded the children and caused the adults to wonder out loud—how did he do that? We unveiled new Rotary and Club advertising to help gain some club recognition in the community.

For the 27th annual Coats for Kids Car Show 2025/26 year, the Bountiful Rotary Club clothed 673 children across 18 South Davis Elementary Schools. Thanks to the endless generosity of Walmart and all our sponsors, every car enthusiast who rolled in with their rides, and our tireless Rotarians and all the volunteers, we truly turned winter into warmth for 673 kids! THANK YOU FOREVER! See you June 19-20th 2026! #28

The Community Club of Ogden Rotaract successfully raised more than $400 through a bake sale designed to engage donors and support a meaningful cause.

Many contributed without taking baked goods - simply wanting to support the mission. We purchased literature and picture books with the fund and donated a portion directly to the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital program.

Club members also spent time with the children at the hospital. While not all were able to participate, those who could were delighted. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring joy, even in a small way. Experiences like this clearly demonstrate Rotaract’s positive impact on our community and the lives we are privileged to serve

District Rotaract Representative Savannah Bristol and District Rotaract Chair Martha Velasco attended the Ogden Rotary Club on January 14, where they extended an invitation for the Ogden Rotaract president, Kalijah Robinson and Regional Rotaract Leader, Evan Gale to attend and engage with the club. During the meeting, Savannah delivered a presentation highlighting key Rotaract statistics and explained the concept of becoming a dual member, where individuals can serve as both Rotaractors and Rotarians. She emphasized how this dual involvement can strengthen collaboration, leadership development, and continuity between Rotary and Rotaract clubs, ultimately benefiting both organizations across District 5420.