Paul Harris Recognition

Rotary founded in Chicago by the late Paul P Harris a Chicago lawyer.  He was lonely in the city he wished to form a club for businessmen who had some use for each other beyond just making money out of each other. On 23 February 1905 the first club was formed based on fellowship and meeting at individual houses – hence the name Rotary and the development of humanitarian service and our motto Service Above Self. He died in 1947.

The Paul Harris Fellow was established in his honour in 1957 to express appreciation for the contribution to the programmes of The Rotary Foundation.  Foundation is the Americanism for Charity, hence TRF is our own charity.

The Rotary Foundation’s mission to help Rotary members advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

In 2022 TRF gave $427m in grants including Global Grants, Polio Eradication, District grants and Disaster response.

A Paul Harris Fellow is to recognise a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives and mission of The Rotary Foundation and a donation of $1000 to TRF.

It may be made to a Rotarian or a non-Rotarian. 

The award was presented to Sarah Knight by Keith for her longstanding work in raising funds for the Rotary Foundation and also for her work in the community for the Anne-Marie Mistletoe fund.