Rotary Club of Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio chapter (f. 1910) of the national organization, devoted to community service activities, especially helping crippled children. The Cleveland chapter helped form the national and Ohio branches of the Society for Crippled Children, and by 1954 had donated $200,000 to the Society. In 1941, Cleveland Rotarians established the Cleveland Rotary Foundation which by 1953 had spent $150,000 on various projects and had a principal of $90,000. By 1980 it was still the second largest Rotary club in the world.

From the description of Records, 1910-1954. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 22582329

The Rotary Club of Cleveland (f. 1910), located in 1974 in Suite 358 of the Cleveland Plaza in Cleveland, Ohio, was founded to promote the business interests of members, good fellowship, and the best interests of the city of Cleveland. Membership is open to anyone engaged as a proprietor, partner, corporate officer, manager, or representative in any legitimate business in Cleveland. Only one representative from any type of business may be a member at any given time. Twenty-five charter members formed the Cleveland group just five years after the formation of the first Rotary Club in Chicago, Illinois. By 1945, Cleveland's Rotary Club had 400 members, second only to Chicago. Community service quickly became the major activity of the organization, with aid to crippled children as its most significant undertaking. The Cleveland club helped organize the national and Ohio branches of the Society for Crippled Children. This work earned the 1945 Rotary International President's Award for the Rotary Club of Cleveland. In 1941, the club established the Cleveland Rotary Foundation to finance a wide variety of charitable projects. Rotary conventions came to Cleveland in 1925 and 1939. As late as 1980, Cleveland still had the second largest Rotary club in the world.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Rotary Club of Cleveland

From the guide to the Rotary Club of Cleveland Records, 1910-1954, (Western Reserve Historical Society)