Rotary club focuses on developing young leaders

Partnering with Denton County non-profits like Habitat for Humanity, Communities in Schools of North Texas and Denton County Friends of the Family are just a few ways the members of the Flower Mound Rotary Club work behind the scenes in making the community a better place.

The organization was recently recognized for its community service efforts by the NCTC Foundation, who chose them as the recipient of the 2013 Ed Wright Community Service Award.

The Rotary Club was selected for making a difference at North Central Texas College and in the community by giving their time and resources over an extended period.

In 2011, Rotary Club members approached the community college with the idea of starting a Rotaract Club on campus. 

Rotaract is a Rotary sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30.  The clubs are either community or university based and are sponsored by a local Rotary Club, making them true “partners in service.”

“Rotary members Jennifer Leney and Sean Kelleher were instrumental in collaborating with NCTC staff and getting the organization up and running,” said NCTC Flower Mound Campus Director Jessica DeRoche. “NCTC students are now involved in community projects and presently working on growing the organization and building a better community.”

Projects NCTC Rotaract members have been involved in include landscaping a home for a senior citizen.

Since the Flower Mound Rotary club was chartered in 1987, their commitment to the community has grown deep roots by such services as sponsoring a youth exchange program and also hosting fundraisers such as Vine and Dine which allows them to give away over $50,000 a year to local charities and scholarships.

Among other donations, the club gave $10,000 to Communities in Schools in 2011 and $10,000 to Friends of the Family in 2012.

DeRoche said she believes the Flower Mound Rotary has enhanced the image of NCTC by committing to reach out to college students and mentor them through community service.

The Flower Mound Rotary meets each Thursday at noon at Salerno’s Restaurant, 3407 Long Prairie Rd, Flower Mound, and guests are welcome.