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 is one of the club’s major fundraisers for this scholarship program. It is with the direct support of the Port Authority of NY&NJ that this race has become well known in the “Road Runners” community. Last year’s (1999) race had over 300 entries including members of the JFK Airport Community.
The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport sponsors an annual Christmas party for handicapped children from the local schools (including Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf) and is held in the passenger terminal at JFK Airport. Last year’s party was hosted at the Delta Airline passenger terminal and attended by over 200 children. Sponsors included Delta Airlines, Host Restaurants and the Samaritan Foundation, Inc.
The Rotary Club of JFK International Airport...
- ...sponsors a barbecue for Learning Disabled children of PS 213 each spring of the year.
- ...initiated a new program in 1995 to provide Thanksgiving Dinners for needy families from the communities surrounding the Airport.
- ...in the past two years collected and arranged relief supplies of food and clothing to be sent to the victims of Honduras and Turkey.
- ...is dedicated to continue its long-standing deep and abiding commitment to life and the community at JFK.
- ...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 weekly, on Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the JFK Radisson Hotel. For information about the meeting, go to the Where We Are page.
Any further information of questions, contact Rudy Auslander at 718-244-5140.
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: