Water for Sudan

Orin Abrams from the Anaheim Hills Rotary Club joined us today, along with Ole Prahm from the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, and three "Lost Boys" from Sudan.

Orin presented the "Water for Sudan" project that he has been spearheading in our Rotary District. Water for Sudan is a non-profit 501c3 organization that provides clean, sustainable water to over a quarter of a million people in Southern Sudan.

He showed a video on this impoverished region, where 3 million people live on less than $1 a day, 2 million have been killed at war, and 15% of children die by the age of 6 - primarily from water-borne diseases. He introduced us to Daniel, Simon, and John who, along with 18,000 other young boys, have fled this war-torn area. While many died, these three "boys" (now men) were expatriated to the US, and now live in San Diego, have received a college education, and are providing support for the villages they left behind.

The "boys" recounted their experiences living in Sudan, including how they had lost family members and become sick themselves from the water, not realizing it was contaminated. When visiting his village in 2006, John stated that he had to drink the water as there was no alternative; in 2009 he returned to enjoy fresh water from their new well.

Thanks partly to drilling equipment provided by Ole and the Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, 100 wells have been installed, with 900 more needed. Donations are are very much appreciated, and more information can be obtained at www.waterforsudan.org.

Rotary club of Irvine brings the Laguna Playhouse live theatre performances to four Irvine schools

Irvine, CA, May 17, 2011… The Rotary Club of Irvine’s partnership with The Laguna Playhouse provided TheatreReach: Bringing Books to Life! performances in four Irvine elementary schools during the spring May 2011 tour of By The Great Horn Spoon!, a story about the California Gold Rush, according to Mody Gorsky, club president.

“We are delighted to provide funding for an Arts Access for Youth community grant in support of these performances. Community service and improving the quality of life within our community is “the heartbeat of Rotary.” Approximately 500 fourth grade students from Vista Verde, Stone Gate, Oak Creek and Canyon View Elementary Schools, many who would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience live theatre, attended these performances,” added Gorsky.

According to Donna Inglima, Director of Youth Education Programs at The Laguna Playhouse, the goals of TheatreReach include inspiring students in low-income schools to read their curriculum books and better understand what they have read, and to provide early exposure to live theatre for children who might not otherwise have access to this enriching experience.

Cash Bash Smash Success!

Dr. Austin Wall and Rick Topping announced the winners. Richard Milo projected the spreadsheet of winners and losers on the big screen so everyone could keep track.

The Irvine Rotary Club's annual Cash Bash was a smash success. Lots of winners and lots of fun.

The Grand Prize was won by Tim Wolin who donated his winnings back to the club's foundation to be used for projects.


Members and guests kept track of the proceedings on the big screen.

Rotarians at Work Day - St. Andrew's Children's Center, Irvine

Our annual Rotarians at Work Day project this year was at the St. Andrew's Children's Center in Irvine where club members painted, cleaned and helped create a new planter box. Photos are in the Photo Gallery.