The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport is a member of the international service organization, Rotary International, with over 1.1 million members in 184 countries.
Since its charter in 1970, the Rotary Club of JFK International Airport has become one of JFK Airport’s leading local service organizations. It is comprised of local business, airline, and professional people who work within the JFK Airport community and share the same common principles, which have guided Rotarians throughout the world since Rotary’s founding in 1905. Rotary’s primary commitment to “Service Above Self” is practiced through the four avenues of service: vocational, international, community and to the club.
The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport, through the Gift of Life Program, which is a major program of Rotary International District 7250, sponsors terminally ill children from countries with limited medical and technological services, for life-saving heart operations. JFK Rotary members provide, meet, and assist these children at JFK Airport by providing transportation to the Ronald MacDonald House, to and from the hospital, help with meals, and assist parents during the child’s hospital stay. In addition, the JFK Rotary Club assists other clubs of District 7250 who come to JFK for the same purpose by coordinating with the airlines and applicable agencies to ensure these Gift of Life Children are expeditiously moved through the airport.
The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport has sponsored over $40,000 in student scholarships for the children of employees from the JFK Airport Community. The annual 10K Race (the last one having been held on June 11, 2000) on the runways of JFK Airport was one of the club’s major fundraisers for this scholarship program.It has become an annual event for the JFK Rotary Club. In 2001 the race was changed to a 5K Race. Some of the highlights of the race are:
- 1. It is the only race in the US that is held on a runway of an major International Airport.
- 2. It receives direct support from the Port Authority of NY&NJ who coordinates all the logistics In preparing access to the runway on the day of the race.
- 3. It is well known by the “Road Runners” community.
- 4. In 2008 we had over 625 entries including members of the JFK Airport Community
FOR COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT THIS ANNUAL EVENT, go to www.runwayrun.org. Here you will find more history, complete details and our photo archive of the runners over the years.
The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport sponsors an annual Christmas party for special needs children from the local public schools (including Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf) and is held at JFK Airport. Last year’s party was hosted at Terminal 4, S.E. Lounge (Ref Carpet Area) due to the generous donation of JFK I.A.T. A few of the sponsors included CHS, Hudson News, ARI Sardana, FJC, Capital One Bank, Berkley Cargo Services, and many other wonderful supporters.
The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport...
- ...sponsors a Pizza party for Learning Disabled children of PS 213 each spring of the year.
- ...supported a new program in 1995 to provide Thanksgiving Dinners for needy families from the communities surrounding the Airport.
- ...in the past few years collected and arranged relief supplies of food and clothing to be sent to the victims of Honduras, Turkey, and Hurricane Katrina.
- ...is dedicated to continue its long-standing deep and abiding commitment to life and the community at JFK.
- …sponsors an Air Explorer Boy Scout program helping young people exploring careers in the Aviation Industry.
- ...extends its sincere appreciation to the business community at JFK International Airport, the Airlines and their employees, the Port Authority of NY&NJ and its staff, and friends for their continued support to the Rotary Club of JFK International Airport.
- ...meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm at Chef's Orchid at JFK. Go to the Where We Are page.
Any further information of questions, contact Rudy Auslander at 917-945-8888.
For more information about Rotary, see "About Rotary" or go to its official website at www.rotary.org.
The following is a complete list of JFK Rotary Club's past presidents: