The Rotary Club of Pekin is the community’s longest operating service club. Founded in 1920 under the moniker of “Service Above Self,” Pekin Rotary is a proud member of Rotary International, recognized as one of the oldest and most distinguished humanitarian organizations in the world.  Besides global health and sanitation projects,  RI is universally known for its ongoing effort to immunize children of the world and eradicate polio through its almost 40 year “Polio Plus” Initiative.

The Pekin club enjoys fun every week when it meets at the Miller Center at noon on Wednesdays. Besides great food, there is camaraderie, informative programs, and a lot of laughing between old and new friends.

The club finds personal fulfillment through the many projects it undertakes.  Among them are:

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Pekin Mobile Diner—bringing meals to those in need since 1979.

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Scholarships—to a Pekin High School student every year.

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Scholastic Awards Night—recognizing all 8th grade students in Pekin’s District 108 schools and feeder schools to our high school.

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Community Grants—to groups who have a project for which they seek funding.

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Literacy Grants—which will provide a free book to all of the community’s K-3 students.

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Pekin Outreach Initiative—working and serving meals one day a month to the community homeless.

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Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Christmas.

We also conduct “on-demand” projects when groups or organizations need some additional help to complete a task.

All of this is made possible through the operation of the “Rotary Grill” every year at the Pekin Marigold Festival.  Rotarians work together grilling and serving a wide variety of tasty foods for visitors to buy and enjoy.

For more information, go to pekinrotary.org.