Dear Rotarians,

May is Youth Service Month in Rotary—a time to celebrate the energy, vision, and potential of young people in our communities. This month especially, we’re reminded of how vital it is to engage and empower youth to become leaders of both today and tomorrow.

One powerful way we're putting this into action is through our upcoming Epic Day of Service on Saturday, May 17th at 10:00 AM at Freeman Park. This event brings our community together in hands-on service, and this year, we’re excited to shine an even brighter spotlight on youth involvement.

In collaboration with School District 93, we’ve launched a special High School Grant Challenge: the high school that brings the most student volunteers to the Epic Day of Service will receive a $1,425 grant—the remaining funds from our District 5400 Grant allocation. It’s a friendly competition with a meaningful purpose: inspiring students to give back, while directly supporting their schools in the process. As Rotarians, we are always sharing the message of the value of service as a worthy enterprise and we want that message to beat strong in the hearts of our youth.

We encourage all of our club members to attend, bring family and friends, and especially help us spread the word to the youth in our networks. Whether you're a parent, teacher, neighbor, or mentor, your invitation could be the spark that lights a lifetime of service.

Let’s make this May a true celebration of Youth Service—and show our students what it means to be People of Action.

Yours in Rotary Service,