For the past three years, a quiet but powerful transformation has been unfolding in the Imperial Valley — one that began with a bold idea from the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo and our international partners in Puruándiro, Mexico (District 4140).
Together, with the support of Rotary Clubs across District 5340 — Calexico, Brawley, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial Valley, Borrego Springs, Oceanside, Palm Springs — and their club foundations and The Rotary Foundation, we launched a Global Grant unlike anything our district had attempted before.
Today, that journey is reaching a milestone. The Imperial Valley Global Grant is preparing to close, not because the work has ended, but because its goals have been met — and exceeded in ways none of us could have imagined.
When the project began, our aim was ambitious: to enroll and educate approximately 700 children of migratory field workers in California. These families move with the seasons, and their children move from school to school, often falling behind through no fault of their own. Their annual pass rates were consistently lower than those of children with stable school placements. We believed Rotary could help change that.
What happened next was extraordinary.
By the end of March, instead of 700 children, the program had successfully enrolled 2,400 students — more than triple the original goal. For the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, this was its first Global Grant, and it became a model of what determination, collaboration, and compassion can achieve.
Our partner, Learning Upgrade, played a pivotal role. Their online platform — offering U.S.-standard educational content across all grade levels, including English as a Second Language — gave each child a personalized, flexible learning path. Using school-provided smartphones, tablets, and computers, students could learn anytime, anywhere. Their unique login identities allowed them to continue their education even as their families moved. Mentors guided them through lessons, celebrated their progress, and helped them earn success certificates.
Although the grant will close from a Rotary reporting and financial standpoint, the work continues. The Learning Upgrade licenses, student support, certificates, gatherings, and progress monitoring will remain active for another year under the stewardship of the Rancho Bernardo Host Committee — fulfilling Rotary’s commitment to sustainability.
This project would not have been possible without the dedication of many. We extend heartfelt gratitude to Vinod Lobo, CEO of Learning Upgrade, and his team — Haneen Khalaf and Drew Robinson — who went far beyond expectations to reach and educate these children.
The Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo Host Committee — Pat Chaffee, Lee Promus, and Past President of Calexico Hortencia Armendariz — carried an enormous load behind the scenes. What might have seemed like a typical volunteer project quickly became a complex effort shaped by national politics, logistical hurdles, and triple the expected workload. Yet they never wavered. Their perseverance ensured that thousands of children, not hundreds, received the education they deserve. As one team member put it, “What an adventure it’s been.”
As we close this chapter, Pat and I want to recognize Lee Promus, who recently shared that he will be stepping away from the Host Committee to focus on a major project he leads with the Soroptimists. Lee’s guidance and steady leadership have been invaluable, and he remains a credit to the Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo. We now welcome RB’s Immediate Past President Terry Heck, who will join the Host Committee as we continue the final phase of this work.
And finally — stay tuned. There is outstanding new news on the horizon.