We invite you to attend the Service of Remembrance for Veterans at the Parker Cemetery on Memorial Day (Monday, May 31, 2021).  You can attend either in person or live-streamed at https://client.tributecast.com/tcid/752922832.

Lew Million reminds us that the Polio Plus campaign still needs our support!  Wild polio exists in only two nations in the world: Afghanistan and Pakistan.  It will take a concerted effort to get us over the last hump to eliminate polio completely.

Please send your donation to the Rotary Club of Parker Foundation.  You can either

mail a check to Rotary Club of Parker Foundation, PO Box 1472, Parker, CO 80134

OR

send a donation online from your bank or credit union using Zelle.  The email address to direct your Zelle donation is foundation@parkerrotary.org 

Whichever method you use, please be sure to include a note in the memo field indicating that your donation is for Polio Plus.

One of the service activities that our club supports is Project Sanctuary, which serves veterans and active-duty military personnel.  As you may be aware, “veterans and service members often struggle to transition into a ‘new normal’ after service or deployment. Faced with higher rates of unemployment, addiction, suicide, and other challenges, military families too often fight their battles alone.” The mission of Project Sanctuary is to “reconnect [military] families, restore hope, and change lives through therapeutic retreat and long-term family support services.”  The Today Show had a segment on Project Sanctuary recently and interest in their retreats has since snowballed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hAU9JN0XF8

Club member Mike Endres recently volunteered at Project Sanctuary Retreat #226 at the YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch (his 8^th retreat).  The photo shows Mike presenting a check from our club to Heather Ehle, Project Sanctuary CEO & Founder.

If you would like more information on Project Sanctuary or on local volunteering opportunities, please contact Mike at endresm2009@gmail.com or check out the Project Sanctuary website at https://projectsanctuary.us/

Congratulations to Riley Gordon, the Student of the Month for Ponderosa High School!  Riley joined us on Zoom along with her parents Jarret and Eileen Gordon and English teacher Dana Swanson.

Riley has served the Ponderosa community in a variety of roles, including as reporter for the Technology Student Association, on Link Crew, and as parliamentarian for National Honor Society.  Riley is the founder of the Outdoor Classroom Task Force, a project to create an outdoor learning space at Ponderosa. Ms. Swanson commented in particular on Riley’s multi-year involvement with PeaceJam, which she currently serves as the co-president.  (PeaceJam is an international organization whose mission statement is "to create young leaders committed to positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody.")  Riley has also served the larger community by volunteering at food drives and food shelters, by mentoring elementary students in reading during the summers, and by writing to seniors in retirement homes who were isolated during the COVID pandemic.

Riley plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study biomedical engineering with a minor in Spanish, with the goal of eventually becoming a surgeon.  Congratulations on all your achievements, Riley, and we wish you all the best!

The Rotary Club of Parker joined with other Rotary clubs in our District in a day of service on Saturday, May 8.  Look at all that Rotarians can do!

Our club's project was to do some spring cleaning in the sensory gardens at Praying Hands Ranch, a therapeutic riding center.  After working, we had the opportunity to learn more about the mission of Praying Hands Ranch while visiting the indoor arena.  We also presented a check to support their work.  To see more photos of our club in action, click here.