Founded in 1926, the Rotary Club of El Cajon serves the City of El Cajon and the unincorporate areas of El Cajon, including Rancho San Diego.
The club is comprised of civic-minded community leaders and business professionals. Several members have been named Citizen of the Year for the City of El Cajon, including (partial list) Stu Scott, Tim McDougal, Harold Brown, Joe Mackey, and Humbert Cabrera.
The club meets every week at noon at Hooleys Public House in Rancho San Diego.
Membership
The Club is home to approximately 29 members, four of which are brand new members as the club rebuilds back to pre-Covid numbers of 50+ members. The club welcomes and invites individuals who value service, leadership, and community involvement as potential members and at-large volunteers.
Key Focus Areas
The Rotary Club of El Cajon focuses its efforts on a variety of service projects including projects like painting picnic tables and donating them to organizations such as Thousand Smiles, Saint Madeleine Sophies Center and school sites. Monthly, Rotarians assist with food distribution at the El Cajon Salvation Army location. The club also provides support to La Mision and Mexican Medical each serving the underserved of Baja California. Other international projects conducted in the past include water wells in African and Zimbabwe, books for Liberia, toilets in India and girls’ education in Guatemala. The club, for this past year’s Epic Day of Service built, painted and donated four little libraries encouraging literacy on the campuses of 4 local schools.
Signature Project
For many years, Rotarians have participated in the Thousand Smiles clinic where they have overseen making lunches for the volunteers. They have donated a large industrial grade kitchen oven and provided picnic benches for the upstairs patio to allow volunteers to have a nice lunch outside.
Youth Services
Developing the next generation of leaders is one of the club’s highest priorities, actively supporting youth through Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). The club also supports Interact at Christian High School and will be starting another Interact at Valhalla High School encouraging young people to discover the value of leadership, volunteerism, and community service.
Each year, the Rotary club provides perpetual and individual plaques to an outstanding student at each of the El Cajon Valley School District’s middle schools, promoting academic achievement.
Club Foundation
In 1965, the club incorporated the El Cajon Rotary Foundation for the purpose of administering funds for charitable and educational purposes. As a result, the club has been able to use the Foundation’s assets along with club fundraising efforts to give out generous monetary grants to local nonprofits. This year, the following organizations were the beneficiaries of this program: La Mision Children’s Fund, Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, Valhalla Dance Company, Girls on the Run, American Legion Post 303, The RAD Movement, Sonshine Haven, Steel Canyon Golf Program, Mexican Medical, Saint Madeleine Sophies Center, The Water Conservation Garden, Meals on Wheels, Boys and Girls Club of East County, Support the Enlisted Project, Sacred promise Institute, Noah Homes, 29:Eleven Maternity Home, Heritage of the Americans, Boys to Men Mentoring Network, STEP and Julian Sunny Side Up Animal Shelter.
“The Rotary Club of El Cajon is proud to maintain a premier position of respect in our community,” said Joe Mackey, president. “Giving of ourselves and for the community’s greater good is what we are all about.”
Social Media
The Rotary Club of El Cajon maintains an active presence on Facebook and its website to highlight service projects, community events, member accomplishments, and upcoming activities.
Website: www.elcajonrotary.org