We will use this month’s Zoom-only Club Assembly on October 21 as a forum for committees to report on their work, invite members to participate, and break out to individual committee meetings.  We will also briefly discuss the agenda for the next 4 monthly third week Club Assemblies, each of which will center around one of the four focus areas discussed at the recent District 7430 Club Planning Workshop.

We will not have a Club meeting on the following dates, due to proximity to the holidays.:

• November 25^th (the day before Thanksgiving)
• December 23^rd (the day before Chrismas Eve)
• December 30^th (the day before New Year’s Eve)

 Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82316458825?pwd=9sigJLhdZEjxxWY3cL6jPY24B9ttKG.1

Meeting ID: 823 1645 8825
Passcode: 742262

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Rotary in Action: Building a Culture of Care Through Youth Mental Health

The strength of Rotary shines through in our local service projects and, especially, in the partnerships we build to make a lasting difference in our communities.  Last week, Diane Donaher spoke about two important initiatives our club supports through District and Global Grants, highlighting how Rotary collaboration can help address critical community needs.  As Chair of the District 7430 Mental Health & Wellness Committee, Diane is helping lead a District Grant that brings together six high schools and six local Rotary clubs to support Aevidum, a student-led mental health and wellness program.

What is Aevidum?

Aevidum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young people to break the silence surrounding depression, suicide, and other challenges facing today’s teens. Its name means “I’ve got your back”—a message born when students came together following the death of a classmate by suicide.  Today, Aevidum encourages schools and communities to create cultures of care, compassion, and advocacy, where every student knows they are not alone and that someone is there to support them. Aevidum chapters are active in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges across the country.

How is Rotary making a difference?

Through this District Grant, each participating Aevidum chapter will receive curriculum materials, funding for schoolwide awareness campaigns and activities, and support for five students to attend the state conference for additional leadership development and facilitator training. These resources will help students lead positive initiatives, strengthen peer connections, and build more supportive school environments. This year, the Bethlehem Rotary Club will partner with Liberty High School to support its Aevidum chapter and help advance a culture where students look out for one another.

We invite you to take just two minutes to watch this video featuring students and administrators sharing their experiences with Aevidum at Nazareth High School:  Watch the Aevidum video on YouTube

Interested in learning more or getting involved in this important initiative? Contact Diane Donaher at dianedonaher7430@gmail.com.

Rotary’s Global Impact: Investing in the Next Generation of Student Mental Wellness Leaders

Rotary’s commitment to service extends far beyond our local communities. Through international collaboration and innovative partnerships, we can bring proven programs to new communities and equip the next generation of leaders to address some of today’s most pressing challenges.

Diane also shared an exciting Global Grant initiative, The Reflect Center for Excellence Summer Fellowship Program, which focuses on developing student leadership and mental wellness initiatives at colleges and universities in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia regions.  Through a partnership with The Reflect Organization, Rotary is supporting students at four institutions: Lehigh University, Northampton Community College, the University of Pennsylvania, and Arcadia University. The program prepares students to become effective campus mental wellness leaders by strengthening their training, facilitation skills, and ability to foster meaningful connections among their peers.

During the summer fellowship, students work alongside Reflect professionals and campus mentors to develop practical, campus-specific initiatives. Each Fellow creates a Capstone project designed to apply what they have learned to the needs of their own college community. These projects will be implemented during the following academic year, extending the fellowship's impact well beyond the summer experience.

A Global Partnership with a Local Impact

This ambitious initiative brings together Rotary District 7430, serving the Lehigh Valley region, and District 7450, serving the Philadelphia region, along with Rotary clubs in South India and Brazil. Together, these partners are working to raise $50,000 to bring the program to U.S. colleges that participated in a pilot program this past summer.  Global Grants that bring international Rotary resources to support programs here in the United States are relatively uncommon. This project demonstrates the power of Rotary’s global network: when clubs and districts across geographic boundaries share a commitment to improving lives, they can make innovative programs possible and create lasting community impact.

The District 7430 Mental Health & Wellness Committee is thrilled to collaborate with District 7450 and our international Rotary partners to advance this important work. By investing in student leadership, peer connection, and mental wellness, we are helping colleges build stronger, more supportive campus communities.  Learn more abou this past summers pilot program results: (Insert link from below)

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Foundation Grants

The Bethlehem Rotary Foundation is accepting grant applications. Applications must be submitted electronically or postmarked by November 13, 2026. Members who support a nonprofit organization with a local project are encouraged to invite the organization to apply for funding. For questions about the application process, contact Diane Donaher dianedonaher7430@gmail.com.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Dee Dee Foran