Welcome to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona

The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA) is a non-profit organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3) whose purpose is to assist those people who qualify under Arizona law to obtain financial assistance to further their vocational studies. TRVFA is an organization which meets Arizona’s Credit For Contributions To A Qualifying Charitable Organization requirements. Our QCO Code is 20698.

Candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are identified and recommended to TRVFA by financial aid counselors in vocational education institutions. and/or Rotarians and their clubs.

Mailing Address: TRVFA, P O Box 14412, Scottsdale, AZ 85267

Our Mission, Vision and Motto

Our mission is to ensure a revenue stream which will continuously fund vocational education grants requested by struggling Arizona residents who demonstrate the desire and will to enable themselves to thrive.

Together, we create lasting change by allowing individuals to

lift themselves out of poverty and contribute to their communities.

HELPING OTHERS HELP THEMSELVES

May 17 is now Deadline for 2020 Tax Credit Donations

We learned this morning that the deadline for making 2020 tax credit donations to Qualifying Charitable Organizations has been extended to May 17, 2020.

We have verified that The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona is a Qualifying Charitable Organization on both the 2020 and 2021 lists of QCO's with the Arizona Department of Revenue. Our QCO number is 20698.

CLICK HERE to download an announcement about this change and information about how to file to receive tax credit for your donation.

While it is on your mind, CLICK HERE to make your donation. If you've already filed your 2020 tax return, it is not too early to start making painless monthly recurring donations toward your tax credit claim on your 2021 tax return. That option is available near the bottom of the online donation form.

Rotary Week of Service April 17-24

Most receiving this newsletter are on our distribution list because, at some time, you have donated to support vocational education grants from The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA). A few of you receive it because you are bulletin subscribers. One thing Rotarians have generally failed to do is communicate about the many wonderful things we do in their own community and in the world. That is about to change.

There is about to be a huge concerted effort by Arizona Rotarians to let our fellow-citizens know many of the good things we do, and invite them to join us for some service activities. If you CLICK HERE or on the image at the top of this article, you will arrive at a special website about Rotary Week of Service.

On that site, you will see opportunities to give and in many cases, opportunities to volunteer and serve in a variety of projects and service activities. To see The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA) opportunity within the week of service website, CLICK HERE.

We thought our TRVFA donors should be among those who are first made aware of this new effort to let our communities know that, for Rotarians, being People of Action is a way of life. We hope many of you will join us in service April 17-24.

We Need Donors to be Advocates

Our capacity to fund Vocational Education Grants depends directly on the amount of donations we receive. Some challenges we face are:

Receipt of donations is very seasonal. The amount received between July 1 and December 20 was doubled in the final eleven days of 2020.
Majority of our donors are members of Rotary, but less than 10% of Rotarians in Arizona have donated so far this fiscal year.
With 3/4 of the fiscal year gone, there are still one third of Arizona Rotary Clubs from which we have not received even one donation.
Our maximum grant of $2,000 is much too low to meet the needs of today's students who meet our low income guidelines.
- If a conservative half of the $2,000 grants already funded this year had been funded at the former $3,000 maximum, our expenditure year-to-date could have been over $250,000.
- The current $2,000 maximum grant is limiting the future earning potential of those most in need of our help.
Relatively untapped resources for TRVFA are:
- Income from family trusts,
- Mandatory retirement distributions that are not needed for daily living
- Donations from the charitable fund resources of Rotary Clubs in our State

At this time, only a small handful have taken advantage of the recurring donation option available on our on-line donation form.

Our all-volunteer board of directors has a limited reach in getting past the problem that TRVFA seems to be a best-kept-secret.

There is so much to learn and know about all the good done by and through Rotary. There is a continuous stream of announcements about new opportunities to be a part of, We are all bombarded with information constantly from a variety of sources. What we respond to is typically something that touches our heart.

If we are to expand our reach, it will take an emotional appeal from someone known, respected and loved to reach new donors. New donors typically donate because someone convinced them it was a really good thing to do. As a donor, we hope you will consider being that person in your circle of influence.

When you think about the potential income from your family, your friends, your co-workers, your advocacy could fund several more students. If those in your circle of influence learn there is a way to help someone lift themselves out of poverty which - with the Arizona tax credit may not cost them anything in the long run - why would they not want to do that?

Ashley Voices Appreciation and Dreams

My name is Ashley. I received a TRVFA grant sponsored by the Kino Rotary Club in August 2020. Without it I wouldn't have been able to buy my dental hygiene instrument kit and get started with school. During the two-year wait for the dental hygiene program at Pima Community College in Tucson, I worked hard and saved money for school. I am paying for my education on my own with the help of scholarships, grants and school loans.

When the semester was starting, I learned I needed to buy a $5,000 instrument kit in addition to paying tuition and buying textbooks. I was not financially able to afford it. With the grant received from TRVFA through the sponsorship of the Kino Rotary Club I was able to buy my instrument kit. Without this help I wouldn't have known where else to turn. I'm incredibly grateful for your team.

I am now in my second semester of dental hygiene working on patients and going to school six days a week while working on my one day off. This is the hardest obstacle I have yet to encounter, but yet the most fulfilling. I am gaining so much knowledge and in May 2022, I'll be graduating and starting my journey as a registered dental hygienist. First stop is to join my classmate Loren from the Phillippines and provide dental care for the people of her hometown. Then I will come back to the states and help our people and spread smiles through my line of work.

I can't wait to be a part of your Rotary group post graduation to help struggling students like myself to give them a chance for a better future.

The pictures are of my first three patients of my dental hygiene program experience - my very own family - My Dad, Mom and big brother. I had just taken full mouth x-rays on them and now I am using those x-rays for my scaling (cleaning) appointments this semester.

I am so incredibly grateful for my education and this experience! There's so much to look forward to.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

Ashley

Sharing Photos of a Few Grant Recipients

We only received photos of two of the seven students whose TRVFA grants were funded in February.

Mariah is studying to be a Dental Assistant at Pima Medical Institute. Her grant was sponsored by the Oro Valley Rotary Club.
Daisy is also studying to be a Dental Assistant. She is attending the American Institute of Dental Assisting. Her grant was sponsored by the Mesa Rotary Club.

The bottom photo was sent to TRVFA Grant Processing by our contact at the Arizona Technical Training Institute. Shown in the photo are Daisy (on the left) and Vanessa, as they were getting ready for graduation from their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program which they started last December.

Rotary Clubs who sponsor grants for TRVFA do not have a financial obligation. They are strongly encouraged to maintain a relationship with the students, who may be willing hands to help with service projects, and may one day be in a position where they can become Rotarians. TRVFA grant processing can ensure that all basic requirements are in place, but sponsoring Rotary Clubs interview the applicants to be sure the student is motivated, likely to succeed in completing the course and will be a good fit for the chosen vocation. TRVFA doesn't want the interviewing club members to "rubber stamp" the application. If they have serious doubts, declining the request is the appropriate thing to do.

We also encourage clubs to bring their scholars back after they complete their course of study and share the impact the grant made in their life. Photos and success stories help us raise funds so that we can continue to make a positive difference by helping individuals help themselves.

Listen to Podcast to Learn About TRVFA

TRVFA Board Member Diane Ventura-Goodyear is also serving as District Governor of Rotary District 5500 from July 2020 through June 2021. In her role as District Governor, Diane has become very aware that there is a lack of knowledge about The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona as well as some incorrect information that many she comes in contact with believe to be true.

In August of 2020, Diane interviewed Jeanie Morgan, who had recently accepted the role of President of the TRVFA board, and created a podcast which she hopes many will listen to and will share what they learn with others.

CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast - it will take about twenty minutes of your time - time Diane believes will be well-invested.

Grant Recipients Featured at District 5495 Conference

Rotarians attending the District 5495 Conference June 22, 2019 had an opportunity to hear from vocational education grant recipients telling about the profound difference their TRVFA support has made in their lives. CLICK HERE or on the image to watch a video of their presentation.

Sofia Ibarra, seated closest to the podium, was sponsored by the Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary Club to study phlebotomy at East Valley Medical College during the 2016-17 academic year. She was hired immediately after graduating, but has since completed other studies and advanced in her medical profession. She has enjoyed many positive transitions in her personal life as a result of the beginning her TRVFA grant provided for her.

Jocelyn Castillo, seated in the middle was recently sponsored by the Peoria Rotary Club to begin a Surgical Technology program July 12, 2019 at East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Arizona. The grant will enable her to enter a career where she will earn a livable wage while she seeks to achieve her real goal of becoming a surgeon.

Cayanne Nelson, seated on the left, was sponsored by the Paradise Valley Rotary Club in March of this year to study phlebotomy at the East Valley Medical College in Mesa. She interned at the VA medical facility, and was so touched by what they have given for all of us, that she plans to continue to volunteer there even though her permanent paid position will be with another employer.

Welcome to The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona

About The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona

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