Originally focused on eradicating polio, Rotarians have expanded their mission to advancing goodwill and peace across the world through humanitarian service.
"Generally, what we try to work on are projects that can benefit children through education, clean water or disease prevention," said Jim Glass, international director for the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hamilton Place.
As the club's international director, Glass coordinates international service projects like the club's recent partnership with a team from Advancing the Ministries of the Gospel International.
The global evangelical ministry seeks to meet people's deepest physical and spiritual needs, and those are the AMG team's goals in hosting youth basketball camps in Calarasi, Romania, for the past several years.
To aid in the AMG team in its mission to develop players and coaches within the local community of Calarasi, the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hamilton Place collected monetary donations and basketballs to send with them to Romania, said Glass.
Glass concentrates his efforts on international projects, but the club also serves children in the local community. For example, the club funds four scholarships annually to nontraditional students to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Chattanooga State, and last year members collected nearly 200 winter coats for students at local elementary schools, he said.
To learn more about Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hamilton Place, visit hamiltonplacerotary.org.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.