It has been an eventful month for TRVFA. The positive attention received via the TRVFA dinner the night before the 5495 District Conference and throughout the conference raised awareness. I've had a call from one club president since the conference indicating his club foundation will be sending a $4,000 donation. TRVFA was the topic of a post-conference club meeting at Mesa Rotary. Donations from those present were to be matched by their club foundation and will result in a combined total of around $1,000 from their club.
The Silent Auction held during the conference netted $2,625.74. An additional $1,198 in donations came to us during the conference. We've not yet received the net from the dinner, but it appears we will receive between $3,000 to $4,000 after all dinner expenses are paid.
The really good news? It appears the pre-conference dinner benefitting TRVFA will become an annual event.
On Saturday afternoon, illness and scheduling conflicts prevented the two grant recipients from traveling to Prescott to make presentations during our scheduled presentation. This is what did happen:
Acacia Wastchak, granddaughter of TRVFA founder David Wastchak, urged higher levels of support to enable TRVFA to meet the growing demand for grants. Acacia is a member of ASU Rotaract, and vowed that Rotary would always be a huge part of her life.
Bryan Goetzenberger, TRVFA Chair for Mesa West Rotary, spoke about his experience interviewing TRVFA grant applicants.
I announced that at the end of the fiscal year, TRVFA would be awarding nine club awards - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each of three areas of giving competition. A lot could change in the final month of the fiscal year, and we hope it does! The second two areas are computed based on number of active members billed by Rotary International as of July 1, 2021. Current standings are:
Total Donated during the fiscal year from club members, family, friends, and club itself:
1st Place - Mesa West Rotary - $18,472
2nd Place - Anthem - $10,250
3rd Place - Four Peaks - $9,000
Percent of participating members, family and friends
1st Place - Tucson Sunset - 56% 2nd Place - Scottsdale Sunrise 43%
3rd Place - Chandler Horizon 42%
Average given per donor
1st Place - Tucson Sunset - $357.81 2nd Place - Anthem - $292.86
3rd Place - Mesa West - $263.89
Giving to TRVFA matters. Donations are the source of our ability to fund grants. So far this year, we have funded $253,082.00 benefitting 136 applicants. The fall semester of the year is typically the busiest time of the year for processing grant requests. We do not have a huge endowment to draw from. Between what we currently have in the bank and the current value of our investments, we have less than $110,000 on hand to process grants in the coming months Grants currently in process could use $13,500 of that. Please use your influence to drive donations from club members, family and friends as well as clubs and club foundations during the final month of this fiscal year. Encourage members to make their tax credit donation for 2022 early - or sign up for monthly recurring donations. In addition to making an impassioned plea for support, share our donation link in your digital communications to make it easy for recipients to give! This isn't a someday need, it is an URGENT NEED!
District 5495 kicked off its 2022 District Conference with its first-ever TRVFA fundraiser held May 12 at the Phippen Museum in Prescott.
A total of 71 Rotarians attended the western-themed dinner that featured musical entertainment by Past District Governor Alan Havir.
The TRVFA Committee launched a silent auction that evening that continued "live" throughout the district conference. After expenses, the dinner generated nearly $4,000 for TRVFA, with another $2,500-plus generated by the auction. The heightened awareness created by the event also resulted in several club donations to TRVFA.
"I could not be more pleased with the positive awareness the conference created for TRVFA," said PDG Jeanie Morgan, chair of TRVFA.
District 5495 held its 2022 District Conference May 12-14 at the Prescott Resort and Conference Center in Prescott. DG Bret McKeand
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 that 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
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Arizona Tax Credit - TRVFA is an organization which meets Arizona's Credit for Contribution to a Qualifying Charitable Organization requirements. Our QCO Code is 20698. They may also be deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes to the extent allowed by law. A federal tax deduction for a contribution must be reduced by the amount of a state or local tax credit received, or expected to be received, in return. Please consult your tax advisor to determine the tax benefits of your donation
Tax Status TRVFA is a 501 (c)(3) recognized non-profit organization as determined by the IRS - Federal Tax ID #86-0632646. Donations to TRVFA are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.
