Rotary Club of Mineral Wells President David Cairone, left, congratulates Rotarian Charles Thompson for reaching Level Three of giving to Rotary's Paul Harris Fellowship Foundation.
A six-year member of Rotary, Thompson has surpassed $3,000 in donations to Rotary International's foundation.
Paul Harris was a Chicago attorney who formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on Feb. 23, 1905, from his vision of an organization comprised of diverse backgrounds that could exchange ideas, form lifelong friendships and work for the betterment of their community.
Established in 1957, the Paul Harris Society recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute $1,000 or more each year to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants. The purpose of the Paul Harris Society is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation. Rotary districts often honor new members of the Paul Harris Society by presenting them with a certificate and chevron at a district or club event.
Paul Harris Society gifts have helped provide:
• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa.
• Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhea, and other diseases in India.
• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimize mortality rates among premature babies.
• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda.
• Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali.
Congratulations to Charles Thompson for his generous and unselfish giving and achieving the third level of Paul Harris Society Fellowship.