Projects are the heartbeat of what we do. Described below are projects that we have completed in the last year as well as those that are recurring. Projects originate from our members and collectively represent what we CARE about. |
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| Art In A Box The Art in a Box project was developed by the Rotary Club of Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise—in partnership with Mt. Diablo Unified School District's Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE). This year, 500 boxes of art supplies were handed out to disadvantaged kids. Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary contributed financially and participated in box assembly events. Last Event: December 2023 Project Lead: Dan Herbert Partner: Rotary Club - Clayton Valley Concord Sunrise |
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| Better Sleep For Children Too many children go without a bed or even a pillow. Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that supplies beds and bedding for those in need, works to correct that deficiency. Members of Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary rolled up their sleeves alongside other volunteers to build 52 beds. The need is great. At last count, 552 bed requests were waiting to be fulfilled. Last Event: January 2024 Project Lead: David Lipscomb Partner: Sleep In Heavenly Peace |
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| Breakfast with Champions Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary has teamed up with DVC and Year Up to help students in the Business Program develop the skills necessary to succeed. Year Up's job training program is tuition-free and offers access to today's best companies and a proven path to career success. Rotarians join Year Up students at a business breakfast to help students practice the finer arts of interacting with seasoned business people. Frequency: Annual Project Lead: Chuck Yeager Partner: Diablo Valley College |
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| Campolindo High School Greenhouse Irrigation We worked with some Campolindo High School students to install an overhead irrigation system in the School's greenhouse so that students can grow seedlings in winter and share them with other schools in the area. Event: January 2024 Project Lead: Mark Lewis Partner: Campolindo High School |
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| Camp Royal Camp Royal is a leadership camp for promising high school juniors to help teach leadership skills and instill the confidence needed by tomorrow's leaders. The program is a one-week experience held in the beautiful Lassen National Forest. Camp alums look back at this week as a life-altering positive influence at a crucial time in their lives. LSR typically sponsors the cost of 1-4 students. Frequency: Annual Project Lead: Ernie Furtado Partner: Rotary District 5160 |
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| Camp Venture Camp Venture is a four-day program sponsored by Rotary that teaches future entrepreneurs the basics of teamwork and developing ideas into marketable products. The program takes place at St. Mary’s College and is designed for high school juniors. LSR typically sponsors the cost of 1-4 students. Frequency: Annual Project Lead: Ernie Furtado Partner: Rotary District 5160
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| Cardiac Prevention Project in Mexico Our club donated $2,000 to support the Global Grant Project of the Danville-Sycamore Rotary Club in partnership with local Rotary clubs in Leon, Mexico. The funds will provide a cardiovascular prevention program at the University Hospital in Monterrey, State of Leon, Mexico. This will help low-income patients receive angioplasty surgeries and follow-up treatment free of cost. Frequency: One-time Project Lead: Skip McCowan Partner: Danville-Sycamore Rotary Club |
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| Elementary School Educational Gardens Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary, in collaboration with the non-profit Growing Healthy Kids, has partnered to assist elementary schools in the Mount Diablo Unified School District in upgrading their student vegetable gardens by installing drip watering systems controlled by timers. This will guarantee that the vegetables planted in the spring continue to thrive and remain healthy until the children return to school in the fall. Systems were installed in five school gardens this year. Last Event: June 2024 Project Lead: Mark Lewis Partner: Growing Healthy Kids, MDUSD |
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| Good Character Awards Every year, we honor and recognize middle school students who have demonstrated kindness, integrity, perseverance, compassion, and service to others. These values are embodied in the Rotary 4-Way Test. We collaborate with faculty and administration to identify students exhibiting these positive traits. This process culminates in an award ceremony attended by the students' families, friends, teachers, administrators, and public officials. During the ceremony, attendees hear inspiring stories and witness the presentation of awards to these exceptional individuals. Ceremony Event: Annual (March) Project Lead: Bob Marino Partners: Joaquin Moraga Middle School, Orinda Intermediate School, Stanley Middle School |
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| Guatemala Hydroponics We have contributed $2,000 to the project, which will benefit a group of 28 indigenous women from Comalapa and their families, including approximately 25 children. The income generated from the sales of the produce will provide these women with an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty that many indigenous people in Guatemala face. Timing: 2023 Project Lead: Skip McCowan Partners: Rotary Club of Vista Hermosa, Rotary Club of Skidway Island, Phalarope |
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| HOME Team Rotary HOME Team is an iconic LSR Project that provides “handyman” services to senior citizens in the Lamorinda area at no cost. Rotarians and volunteers visit seniors by appointment to perform odd jobs that allow seniors to be more independent and stay in their homes as long as possible. This is one of our signature projects, adopted by 30 other Rotary clubs. Frequency: Every other month Project Lead: Gary Satterfield Partner: Lamorinda Village |
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| Hope Solutions Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary works with Hope Solutions, an organization dedicated to alleviating the impacts of poverty and homelessness by offering permanent housing solutions and essential support services to vulnerable families and individuals. For over twenty years, LSR has provided all the food for the Thanksgiving Dinner for twenty-three families residing at one of the Hope Solutions properties: Garden Park Apartments. Additionally, we organize a Halloween Pumpkin Carving event for the children at Garden Park Apartments. This event has been a cherished tradition for many years. LSR supplies the pumpkins, tools, and guidance while the children bring their creativity and imagination. Frequency: Annual Project Lead: Brad Davis Partner: Hope Solutions |
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| It’s a Wonderful Life LSR provides Hot Chocolate to the participants of the annual Holiday Celebration in Lafayette Plaza. This project is a collaborative event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lafayette. Project Lead: Chris Laszcz-Davis Frequency: Annual Partner: Lafayette Chamber of Commerce |
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| Jump into the Piranha Pool! Each year, DVC offers a challenge to its business students to develop a business plan and present it to a panel for review. Like TV’s Shark Tank, student teams compete for top honors. Rotarians mentor these teams, provide real-world business experience and coach them toward success. Frequency: Annual Project Lead: Chuck Yeager Partner: Diablo Valley College |
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| LN4 Hand A group of 81 Lamorinda Sunrise Rotarians and guests, which included 9 Joaquin Moraga students and family members, gathered at the Lafayette Veterans Building to assemble 36 prosthetic hand devices. The device, known as the LN4 Hand, is a low-tech prosthetic that was invented by a Rotarian and is incredibly valuable to individuals without an upper limb. The loss of a limb can determine whether the individual is able to be employed and contribute to household duties. The event was not just a project-related activity but also a social gathering to help raise money for the Lamorinda Sunrise Endowment Fund. Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary has financially supported the LN4 Hand project for nearly 20 years, and this is the second time we have hosted an assembly project. Event: October 2023, plus ongoing financial support Project Lead: Terry Pickering Partner: LN4 Foundation |
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| Polio Plus Since the Eradication Program started 35 years ago, members of LSR have donated over $200K. RI has raised $2.5 billion, which the Gates Foundation has matched with $5 billion. Every member has contributed every year since inception, and seventeen members make additional yearly contributions. Frequency: Ongoing Project Lead: Rich Shearer Partners: Rotary International, WHO, CDC, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi. |
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| Scholarships LSR provides a range of scholarships aimed at helping first-time junior college students achieve their goal of advancing their education with the hope that the professional training will act as a catalyst for social mobility. Scholarships are offered in Nursing, Automotive Science, STEM, and other disciplines.
We also award stipends to promising young people with experience in the foster care system who are transitioning to the next stage in their lives. Finally, in collaboration with Asante Africa, we provide one female student $1,000 yearly to allow that student to remain in school and achieve the level of education necessary for independence. Funded at $6,250 Frequency: Annual Project Lead: Chris Laszcz-Davis Partner: Various |
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| Shelterbox It is estimated that more than 100 million people around the world have lost their homes due to natural disasters and conflicts. In response to this issue, the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary has partnered with Shelterbox to provide emergency shelter, essential tools, and household supplies to displaced families. Our objective is to help them rebuild their lives and restore their hope. Annually, Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary contributes funds to support Shelterbox's mission. Frequency: Annual Project Lead: Jamie Textor Partner: Shelterbox |
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| STEM Conference AAUW-OML (American Association of University Women - Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette), as part of its mission to advance gender equity for women and girls through research, education, and advocacy, has sponsored an annual STEM Conference at Saint Mary's College since 2016. The Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary provides financial support and scores of volunteers for The Conference, a one-day event that offers 175 middle school girls from Contra Costa County interactive STEM workshops. Event: Annual (March) Project Lead: Chris Laszcz-Davis Partner: AAUW-OML |
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| Valley View Middle School Woodshop Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary led the community efforts to revive the woodshop program that was dormant for ten years. The initiative involved replenishing tools, purchasing and installing a modern and safe table saw, and organizing work parties to prepare the woodworking spaces. One objective of the project was to enhance safety in the shop by installing a modern table saw with the best safety features available. The new saw cost approximately $4K, and Lamorinda Sunrise, Pleasant Hill Rotary, and Diablo Woodworkers provided the funding for procurement, assembly and installation. Video Installation Event: January 2024 Project Lead: David Lipscomb Partners: Valley View Middle School, Pleasant Hill Rotary and Diablo Woodworkers |
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| Wagner Ranch Nature Area The Wagner Ranch Nature Area is a nature preserve and historic site that offers hands-on experiential education to approximately 1,000 Orinda school children annually. The Nature Area's programs have helped students embrace the connection between themselves and their environment and develop a sense of lifelong stewardship.
Unfortunately, the preserve was shut down due to 2022 storm damage. We contributed $5,000 to help restore it, installed deer fencing, and constructed raised beds. Project Lead: Brad McCullough Last event: May 5, 2024 Partners: Friends of Wagner Ranch and Orinda Unified School District |
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| Walker Ranch This project was a district grant project orchestrated by the Rotary Club of Rossmoor. We have contributed $1,000 to the project, which will benefit adults with autism who have aged out of the public school system and enrolled in the B. Walker Ranch (BWR) day program. The Rotary project will purchase and install a holding tank, an integral part of BWR’s irrigation system supporting their horticultural program. Timing: 2024 Project Lead: Dan Herbert Partner: Rotary Club of Rossmoor |
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| White Pony Express White Pony Express is an organization that rescues fresh, perishable food and distributes it to over 80 charitable organizations and food banks where it is offered to the food-insecure among our neighbors. In 2023, Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary raised over $90,000 to purchase a new refrigerated delivery van for WPE. Since then, LSR volunteers have been helping at the WPE distribution center once a month. Frequency: Monthly Project Lead: Fred Stambaugh Partner: White Pony Express
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| Winter Workshop For Kids Each December, the Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary hosts the Winter Workshop for Kids in Lafayette Plaza Park. More than a hundred children and adults participate in the event, choosing from four craft stations to make a gift for someone they love. Attendees receive free gift materials, a book to take home, hot chocolate, games, and a chance to learn about Rotary. Over thirty-five club members participated. It's a joyful event for all! Event: Annual (December) Project Lead: Jamie Textor Partners: Lafayette Recreation, All Ages Recreation Downtown
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