Meeting Recap

Colton Rompala gave the invocation and led the pledge.

Students

Students from Strongsville High School’s award-winning yearbook staff visited to share the creative process behind their recently released 2025 edition, The Strohigan. With a focus on capturing not only student life but also the spirit of the times, the team spoke about their work in design, photography, marketing, and storytelling. They aim to feature every student at least once and attend a wide range of events—from football games to smaller club activities—to ensure inclusive coverage.

The group also highlighted their efforts to promote the yearbook through social media and local business advertising, which helps fund production. Their visit impressed attendees with both the professionalism and passion behind what they proudly described as more than just a collection of photos—it’s a lasting piece of history.

Strongsville Rotary Foundation – October Board Update

The Strongsville Rotary Foundation board met for its monthly meeting and reviewed financials through August 31, marking the second month of the fiscal year. The Foundation reported approximately $39,000 in its bank accounts and $335,000 in investments, with year-to-date net income breaking even at about $300. Contributions have totaled $9,500 so far this year, with $5,000 in scholarships awarded.

The board approved a $5,000 matching grant to support a global project in Honduras focused on health, nutrition, and kitchen safety education for girls. With matching funds from District 6630 and Rotary International, the total impact of the grant is expected to reach $20,000. Additional approved funding included $1,500 for a Southwest General event sponsorship and $1,632 for equipment needs for Boy Scout Troop 701. A $1,500 request from Find Your Voice Now, a nonprofit supporting women in overcoming toxic relationships, was tabled for further review. The board also acknowledged a $5,500 donation from Hospitality Restaurants for the Hospitality for Hope 2025 campaign and shared that five applications have been sent out for the 2025 Harry Fuehrer Community Service Award. Lastly, the Foundation’s investment advisor reported a 12% year-to-date return, with equities up approximately 20%.

Walk to End Alzheimers

The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's®, the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s takes place Saturday Oct 18th at the Zoo.  You can visit our club's team page at https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=18810&pg=team&team_id=950023 to either join the team and walk, or to donate to the team.

Speaker: Barb Sternberg – Rise in Love: A Decade of Service and Growing Impact

Barb Sternberg, founder of Rise in Love, recently shared the story of the organization’s remarkable growth from a single outreach program to a fully volunteer-run nonprofit now serving over 80,000 people annually across Cuyahoga, Mahoning, Summit, Lake, and Medina Counties.

The organization was born out of urgent need. Today, more than 200,000 children in their service area live in poverty, and 84,000 seniors face daily food insecurity. A persistent housing crisis and rising costs leave many families forced to choose between food, shelter, and childcare.

Program Highlights

Rise in Love operates seven key programs, with two more launching soon.

• Families in Transition (FIT) offers up to three years of job placement, housing support, and long-term stabilization.

• Love Saves responds to crises like eviction or homelessness, offering fast placement and wraparound care.

• Love in a Box distributes groceries and hygiene items to over 400 families monthly—nearly 100,000 pounds of food.

• The Christmas Gift Program has grown to serve 1,300 children, each receiving personalized, wish-list-based gifts.

Additional efforts include scholarship partnerships with Tri-C, refugee resettlement support (especially for Ukrainian families), and meal provision for local shelters. One Ukrainian mother’s story—fleeing war with her son after her husband was killed—highlighted the life-changing work Rise in Love is committed to every day.

Powered by Volunteers

The organization remains 100% volunteer-run, supported by 9 board members, 37 committee members, and 275+ active volunteers. There is no permanent facility; all storage and space is donated. Every dollar raised goes directly to programming, with an annual budget of around $350,000—more than half of which funds FIT.

How to Help

Two major initiatives are underway this fall:

• The Fall Gala, scheduled for November at Encore in Strongsville, is Rise in Love’s largest fundraiser of the year.

• The Christmas Gift Drive is seeking businesses to adopt tag bundles and individuals to shop for children’s wish lists.

“Together, we will change the world,” Barb said in closing, “and that change starts right here in our little corner of it.”