Miracles of Rotary

On December 16th, 2022 Rotarians and community leaders will be locked up at Strickland’s on Oleander Drive. The jailbirds have to raise money to get the keys to freedom. Money raised will go to Rowan Stark who needs help during Burkitt’s Leukemia treatment at UNC Chapel Hill and will also help fund the building of the supply store at Eden Village – a home for homeless folks.

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On September 24th the Wilmington Central Rotary volunteered at the Miracle Fields. Members served as helpers and fans for the ACCESS ball games.

In August, the Wilmington Central Rotary did 2 service projects: The Wilmington

Central Rotary Stuffed the Bus on August 13th
and Volunteered at Surfers Healing on the 22nd.

Purses For the Homeless

A huge THANK YOU to everyone in the community that donated to our Purse Project. We have over 250 purses to donate to women in need! WWAY-TV was there to report on the event: https://www.wwaytv3.com/wilmington-non-profit-work-to-bring-smile-to-unsheltered-women/

Flamingos for a Cause.
Honor a friend, remember a loved one, create a tribute.

Wilmington Central Rotary created a sea of Flamingos on display at the front lawn of Strickland’s during the months of February/March.

Flamingos are “In Memory or In Honor” of someone special. 100% of the proceeds went to support two projects of Surfers Healing, non-profits doing great work in our community.

The mission of Surfers Healing is to enrich the lives of people living with autism by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing. Surfers Healing is the original surf camp for children with autism and offer all camps free of charge.

Wilmington Central Rotary plans to purchase:

9-foot feather flags. These are used to mark our safety zone camp. The safety zone is where are surfers can safely take our children with autism surfing. Areas outside of the two safety flags are safe swim zones as families wait for their surf time. We will purchase 4 flags for the surf zone.
10×10 EZ Up Encore tents. Their tents have come to the end of their life and could also be considered a safety hazard.

Miracles of Rotary 2021

On December 17th Rotarians and community leaders will be locked up at Strickland’s on Oleander drive. The jailbirds have to raise money to get the keys to freedom. Money raised will go to Josie Godwin who needs help purchasing a prosthetic leg and will help fund the building of the supply store at Eden Village – a home for homeless folks.

On October 12 the recipients of this quarter’s philanthropy were at our meeting.

They include:

Dane Britt – anti bully campaign
emale law enforcement appreciation gift bags
Mats and weights for ACCESS Wilmington
Surfers Healing – golf tournament
American Heart Walk – team

The Wilmington Central Rotary filled over 300 bags for NC Nourish in October

The Wilmington Central Rotary collected and filled 108 purses for the homeless. They are distributed to The Carousel Center, Domestic Violence, First Fruit Ministries and Good Shepherd. Thanks to everyone who contributed and helped fill the purses.

Wilmington Central Rotary donates to Autism Society of NC.

The Wilmington Central Rotary’s Miracles of Rotary project raised almost $6K in items for the new LifeLong Intervention Clinical wing for the Autism Society of NC.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Louise McColl has been bestowed the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her role as a volunteer representing America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action. The award was presented at the Wilmington Central Rotary weekly meeting.

In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. A special President’s Call to Service Award recognizes the lifetime achievement of those who complete more than 4,000 hours of service throughout their lifetime.

Louise McColl has dedicated countless hours to community service hours and continues to lead a life of service and achievement. Personally, and professionally, she has found success in making an impact on our community.

When asked about her inspiration to continue serving after decades of work, McColl responded “I love this community. Since I was 22 years old, I have volunteered in this community, state and country. I have learned that if things are to be better it will be up to us. I have been able to meet new friends and extended family members. I have been able to see the faces and tears of the many people we have helped in our community and many I have cried with. I have seen women and men climb the ladder of success because they cared enough to help others. I love the boards that I have been asked to serve on. George Bernard Shaw once said Some people look at things and say why? I look at things and say why not?”

Louise has also chaired and served on boards for Friends of Muni, USS Gravely Commissioning Committee, She Rocks, Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame, New Hanover High School 100-year Alumni celebration, Commissioning Committee for the Submarine North Carolina SSN777, UNCW Sea Hawk Club and Wilmington Central Rotary. McColl’s numerous awards include:

2001 – Women of Achievement Award in Public Service
2001 – Order of the Long Leaf Pine
2004 – Chamber’s Corporate Citizen Award
2008 – Award for Established Chamber Advocate for Outstanding Contributions to the Chamber and Community
2011 – StarNews Media Lifetime Achievement Award

At the award ceremony, Rotarian Jeremy Tomlinson spoke of McColl’s commitment to service above self, stating “We all would like, and most of us try, to use our time, money, and talents to make our community a better place to live but to find someone who applies this motto to themselves every day is rare.”
Louise McColl continues to lead a life of service and achievement and currently serves on several boards in her community.