Rotary literally getting the word to West Palm Beach elementary schools

The Rotary Club of West Palm Beach, which has been doing community service projects for more than 93 years, cites its Dictionary Project benefiting the Palm Beach County School District as one of its all-time favorites. In September the Club will start its eighth year of delivering a dictionary to every third grader in 14 West Palm Beach elementary schools.

In the past eight years the club has distributed more than 11,000 dictionaries, with a total value in excess of $20,000. Approximately 40 members of the Rotary Club will visit the 14 elementary schools and spend time with the children encouraging their academic achievement and showing them how to use their new dictionary.

More than 50 percent of the children in West Palm Beach are on free or reduced lunches. For many of the children, this is the first new book they have ever owned.

In addition to the Dictionary Project, the Rotary Club of West Palm Beach supports the 14 elementary schools in West Palm Beach through their annual Principal Grants Program and Bike Project. Through the years the club’s contributions to West Palm Beach schools have been in excess of $200,000.

“We are proud to be an active business partner with the district,” said Kenyetta V. Haywood, school district administrator and board member of the club. “The Dictionary Project is an example of our Rotary Motto, Service Above Self.”