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Benzie Sunrise Rotary is a volunteer service club whose 45-50 members donate their time and resources to help others in the community and beyond. Our motto is “Service Above Self,” and we strive to live by Rotary's Four-Way Test. Our primary mission is to improve the lives and futures of the youth of Benzie County. In the fall of 2010 we began working with the administration at the Benzie County Central Schools, looking for ways to support the schools in educating their students. We are proud of the partnership we have forged with the school district allowing us to serve district students in a variety of ways:
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At Benzie Elementary and Middle Schools:
- PoWeR! Book Bags where all Benzie Central students grades pre-K through 5th are able to select two free books three times a year.
- Reading is Fundamental, reading three times a year to students in all of the 1st grade classes
- Dictionary program for students in all of the 3rd grade classes
- Sponsoring the Middle School Interact Club.
- Awarding “Service Above Self” awards.
- Assisting annually with the Webber Winter Wear Give-away at all three Benzie Central elementary schools.
- Serving as team guides for the 6th grade class’s participation in the annual Crystal Lake Walkabout.
- Organizing and conducting an annual Service Above Self Day with the 7th grade class.
- Administering annual CHOICES Workshops with the 8th grade class.
- Purchase of a sound system for the Benzie Middle School gymnasium.
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At Benzie Central High School:
- Sponsoring the High School Interact Club.
- Awarding “Service Above Self” awards.
- Chaperoning 9th grade students on the Mi Career Quest experience.
- Chaperoning 10th grade students on a college exploration trip to Northwest Michigan College.
- Sponsoring and chaperoning 11th grade students on a college trip to Michigan State University at East Lansing and Ferris State University in Big Rapids.
- Coordinating in collaboration with BEST Benzie County and the Chamber of Commerce a Career Exploration Day for 12th grade students.
- Sponsoring Benzie Central students at Rotary’s Life Leadership Conference.
- Providing Benzie Bus passes to support student participation in after school activities.
- Awarding a one-year renewable $1,000 Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club Choices Scholarships to a graduating senior.
- Recognition annually of the Top 10 Seniors graduating from Benzie Central.
- Awarding a three-year renewable $1,000 Tim Krause scholarship to a graduating senior.
- Donating $20,000 to the "Back the Track" project for a new athletic facility at the school.
Our Club also supports many other programs, for youth and otherwise:
Locally:
- On the ground and financial support of Goodwill Industries’ Food Rescue to ensure food security within our area.
- Adopt a Highway, cleaning a 2.5-mile section of M-115.
- BACN food drives, including its GED Program.
- Special Olympics and other programs for those with challenged abilities.
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library—Benzie County
- Collaborating with the Traverse City Sunrise Rotary Club’s Born to Read program to provide 3rd trimester packets to pregnant moms.
- Michigan Legacy Art Park
- Elizabeth Lane Oliver Center for the Arts
Internationally:
- Rotary International’s efforts to eradicate polio in the world, working with the Frankfort Rotary Club to hold a Pints for Polio event.
- Wheels of Hope (motorized wheel chairs for Nigeria).
To support our many projects and programs, our Club raises more than $35,000 annually by organizing and hosting three major fundraisers:
- Benefit Golf Outing
- Up North Bike Fest
- Lucky 13 Raffle
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