Thanks to all those who donated to the CPETS Hygiene Products project last month!

CPETS attendees assembled over 2,000 hygiene kits. Over 52 Rotary Clubs in District 7610 then distributed these kits to local organizations in need.

As part of this initiative, Crystal City-Pentagon Rotary Club’s President-Elect, Dr. Marina Theodotou, donated 33 hygiene kits to Carpenter's Shelter. Carpenter's Shelter is a nonprofit organization in Old Town Alexandria supporting people experiencing and at risk of homelessness to achieve sustainable independence through housing and shelter placement, guidance, education, and advocacy.

Crystal City-Pentagon Rotary Club has been invited to tour Carpenter’s Shelter and discuss opportunities for donations and service projects in the next Rotary year.
 

At Arlington’s Feel the Heritage Festival in February, a team from Crystal City-Pentagon Rotary Club (CCPRC) spread the word on free small business resources. The well-attended annual festival featured dozens of exhibitors and fabulous live entertainment. Among them, CCPRC members worked to support local economic development by speaking with prospective entrepreneurs and sharing flyers with free resources for local small businesses. CCPRC greatly appreciated this opportunity to connect with our community and support entrepreneurship.

On Monday, January 15th, six members and two family supporters of the Crystal City-Pentagon Rotary Club participated in Volunteer Arlington’s MLK Day of Service.

Their work supported efforts to engage and inspire girls in STEM.



Working together with other volunteers, CCPRC members packed 2,800 hands-on STEM kits for local schools and community partners.

The STEM kit packing event was organized by the Rosie Riveters, a nonprofit that engages preschool to high school girls in STEM and equips them with an enduring growth mindset. The organization offers interactive, hands-on programs that give girls from diverse backgrounds a fun space to imagine, learn, and play. 

 

In June 2023, the Crystal City-Pentagon Rotary Club (CCPRC) and the eClub Poland launched a rapid fundraising effort to support 50 Ukrainian orphan refugees living in two refugee camps in Poland.

In collaboration with Rotary e-Club Poland, the project aims to support the mental health of 50 Ukrainian refugee orphans (ages 7-16). Building on Rotary e-Club Poland's ongoing efforts to support Ukraine, the project will give these children the opportunity to attend an 11-day mental health and cultural immersion camp on the Baltic Sea coast this summer. They will receive psychological therapy sessions, study the Polish language and culture in an informal setting, take part in sports, and engage in social integration activities with Polish peers.

In June 2023, the Crystal City-Pentagon Rotary Club launched a successful rapid fundraising effort to send 26 refugees to this cultural immersion summer camp. Rotary e-Club Poland will fund the remaining 24 youths. We are grateful to all our donors for making this project a reality.

A team from the Crystal-City Pentagon Rotary Club will travel to Poland to meet our counterparts and visit the cultural immersion camp in late July-Aug. 2023. Our team is also exploring avenues for future support. 
 

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Crystal City-Pentagon for recognition at the District 7610 Awards on July 22, 2023.

Our club and club members were honored for their dedication, service, and hard work in support of Rotary's ideals. We are grateful to be part of such an outstanding group.

• District Governor’s Citation in honor and recognition of the club’s dedication to service, completing 19/23 goals and its commitment to Rotary.
• Certificate of Recognition for active and cooperative participation in the “One New Member Challenge” for adding 8 new members between April and June 2023.
• Rotarian of the Year 2022-2023, Peter Anderson, in appreciation and recognition of distinguished service, loyalty, and devotion to the ideals of Rotary.
• Citizen of the Year 2022-2023 (runner up), in special recognition of Wakefield High School's Interact Club Sponsor.
• Golden Rotarian, Neal Davidson, in appreciation of 50 years of dedicated Rotarian service, devotion, and commitment to the community and world.