Rotary Club of Reno South
About Our Club
Rotary Club of Reno South
Our Beginnings:
In March of 1973 the Rotary Club of Reno (the first club in the Reno/Sparks area) voted to limit the club territory to the City of Reno, north of Plumb Lane. The Reno club sponsored the creation of the Rotary Club of Reno South, which received its charter on May 12, 1973.
The club hit the ground running, supporting their first park project in 1975. Funds were donated for playground equipment at Horsemen’s Park, which at the time was in the Southwest portion of the City of Reno. Our community has changed quite a bit since then.
Other notable early projects included a new lift system for the Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program, ensuring disabled children could learn how to ski, and the creation of Robinhood Park near Virginia Lake.
In 1996, the club looked at the various areas of focus for Rotary International and decided to put their energy, efforts, and treasure into the youth of our community. This led to the creation of an innovative scholarship program dedicated to students sometimes overlooked by other scholarships. Counselors from every high school in Washoe County nominate one or more students for the program. These students have overcome major obstacles in their lives and desire to continue their education but often do not qualify for other scholarships which are typically based on grades or school participation. This program was originally called the “Most Improved Student” scholarship program.
In 2014, the Rotary Club of Reno South saw the need in our community and knew the best way to serve the students of our county was to form a non-profit organization 501(c)3, creating more opportunities for scholarships. The organization received non-profit status in 2017. The “Most Improved Student” program became Achievement Beyond Obstacles (ABO) https://abonevada.org. In addition to scholarships, the program mentor students through the college application process, provides leadership training, and provides opportunities to change their lives.
Reno South Now:
Reno South continues to support our community and the world through dedication, compassion, and hard work.
Our club endeavors to complete monthly service projects, working with other community groups and leaders. Here is what we have done in the past year:
- Pops on the River – parking assistance
- Barracuda Golf Championship – volunteers
- Sierra School for the Performing Arts – volunteer ushers
- Spread the Word Nevada – cleaning and book preparation
- High School Mock Interviews – judges
- Kids Kottage – duffle bag donations
- Thanksgiving meal for seniors – volunteers serving community
- Children’s Cabinet – toy drive
- Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) Christmas tree recycling
- Spread the Word Nevada – book drive
- Nevada Math – Family Math Night @ Anderson Elementary – volunteers
- Achievement Beyond Obstacles – student speeches, judging, scholarships, and celebrations
- Robinhood Park Clean Up Day