Congratulations!  You’ve taken the first step in Taking Action and in Getting Involved by selecting this website and this link. That simple action demonstrates that you have an interest in helping your community and/or the world at large. We (The Natick Rotary Club) and the world (i.e. Rotary International) need more of you and your kind. Let’s have a look at how we may find mutual satisfaction in our aims.

Obviously, the area where you will most directly see the results and benefits of your individual or group efforts is at the local level. Rotary intends to make things better, for people in need and for others who answer that same calling.

Natick Rotary is involved in many service projects which aid the people of Natick including:

Feed Natick Programs

Open Door – Every Thursday evening, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church offers a community meal and social event. Natick Rotary provides and serves the meal one Thursday each month while enjoying the company of those who attend.

In 2012, we were also able to provide a much needed stove for the Church to be used for Open Door.  Read more about by clicking the following link:  http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20120330/News/303309446

Natick Service Council – Natick Rotary enjoys a very close working relationship with The Natick Service Council as we work together to help the citizens of Natick through the following projects:

Food Pantry – The Vi Tutuny Food Pantry is one source of food for people of Natick.  We offer food to those individuals and families in Natick that need help with providing food for themselves and their family.

Holiday Programs – Natick Rotary assists the Service Council in delivering Thanksgiving food baskets and Christmas/Hanukah gifts to families and elders in Natick.

A Place to Turn – Our club assists A Place to Turn , a local food bank that services Metrowest.  Our members shop for items that the organization then provides for those in need.

Embrace A Family

A subcommittee of Natick Rotary, The mission of Embrace A Family is to provide Natick families who are challenged with a cancer diagnosis, direct access to a community and support network.  The program is a committee of the Rotary Club of Natick, a non-profit organization designed to meet the needs of the community through service.

School Programs

Make a Difference school grant program – With this program Natick Rotary provides funding for items and programs for needy middle school and high school students in Natick.  With the assistance of school counselors at Kennedy Middle School, Wilson Middle School and Natick High School, we identify students  who  benefit from this program in order to keep them connected to their peers and their schools.  The Make a Difference program has helped many, many students who have gone on to have further success in life.

Dictionary Project – Each year Natick Rotary presents a dictionary to each third grade student in the Natick Public School system.    The students really delight in investigating their new book and learning new facts.

College Scholarships – Each year Natick Rotary provides five $2000 scholarships to graduating Natick High seniors.  These Scholarships are need based and go toward the student’s first year tuition.

Senior Projects

St. Patrick’s Day Senior Brunch – An annual event of Natick Rotary.  We feed and entertain more than one hundred Senior Citizens of Natick to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  This is a fun event full of music, great food and wonderful camaraderie that puts a smile on everyone’s face.  Click the following link to read about the event:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/x1581727844/Smiles-of-joy-at-Natick-Rotary-s-St-Patrick-s-Day-breakfast

Cheery Plant Delivery Project –  Each spring members of our club delivery a beautiful “cheery” plant donated by Home Depot to members of Natick’s senior community.   Rotarians pick up the plants at Home Depot and deliver them to  seniors who are infirmed and unable to leave their homes.

Community Grants

Natick Rotary raises funds and provides grants to the following non-profit community service organizations:

Angels of Hope, A place to Turn, Camp Arrowhead, Eastern Bank, Family Promise Metrowest, Jeff’s Place Children’s Bereavement Center, Kids Connect, Lake Cochituate Watershed Council, Mosaic Art Institute of Natick, Natick Basketball Association, Natick Community Organic Farm, Natick Historical Society, Natick Service Council, Natick VNA, The Center for Arts in Natick, Women of Means.

Fund Raisers

Tour De Natick – The Tour de Natick has become an annual Father’s Day family tradition in Natick and surrounding communities.  Hundred’s of bicyclists young and old participate in a 6-mile family ride or a 40 mile longer ride along some of MetroWest’s most scenic roads. The rides begins and end at the Natick Common, where a festive barbecue awaits all participants.  This is one of two large fund raisers for the club with all funds going to support Natick Students of all ages.

Read about our 2014 event by clicking this link:

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20140611/News/140618899

Natick Rotary Golf Tournament – Each year the Natick Rotary Club hosts their annual golf tournament in memory of William Rizzo. Located on the Riverside Course at Juniper Hill in Northboro, MA, the tournament gathers business and civic leader who are committed to making a difference in their community. Their support allows Natick Rotary to continue their mission of creating stronger local, national and international communities.

To read about our tournament click the following link:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20120907/News/309079404