Unused DDF Makes All the Difference

Posted by Rob Weinbert 
on Jan 18, 2016
 
Thanks to Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary, Serving Hands International, and the Caster Family Foundation, a Global Grant called “Stitching a Better Future” has been approved by Rotary International, and is now on its way to implementation. DDF refers to District Designated Funds that are distributed to Rotary districts for use in providing to cubs matching grants for funds they raise for local or international projects. 

The Global Grant of $40,050 is to purchase sewing machines to equip a sewing workshop in Southeast Juarez, Mexico and teach vocational dressmaking skills to 25 mothers in the area. Funds earned by the mothers are then used to provide scholarships to pay the tuition of children in elementary and middle schools in Juarez. The Areas of Focus of the grant are Economic and Community Development and Basic Education and Literacy.  Global grants are matching funds from the Rotary International Foundation for qualifying projects of cooperating clubs who have forwarded grant requests via their districts.

The Primary Host Partner for the project is Rotary Club of Juarez Integra, and the Primary International Club is Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Norte. 

Other partners who contributed to the success of the project are: Rotary Club of Moorpark (District 5240) and Rotary Club of Belen, Rotary Club of El Paso, Camino Real, Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Sol, Rotary Club of Alamogordo, all of District 5520. 

This is just one example of how cooperation and collaboration of Rotary Clubs all over the world can make a difference. This example also demonstrates how otherwise unused club DDF can be used to push worthwhile projects over the top as the clubs work to reach the financial goals. In this case, funds were specifically provided to Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Foundation by Caster Family Trust with the help of Serving Hands International. Those funds were then matched by District 5340 which pushed the project over the top in its funding goals.