Rotary Club of Washington, DC Donates Dictionaries to Stanton Elementary Third Graders

Since joining The Dictionary Project over a decade ago, the Rotary Club of Washington, DC has donated tens of thousands of dictionaries to local students. This year, their tireless volunteers visited Stanton Elementary School, where every third grader received a beautifully bound dictionary of their own.

Each student had the opportunity to write their name in the front and explore definitions, maps, and sign‑language guides. Volunteers explained how to use the dictionary and shared inspiring stories about “service above self,” reinforcing both literacy and civic values.

This initiative aligns with RCDC’s foundation goal of improving literacy to reduce youth violence, and marks another milestone in the club’s massive impact: over 48,900 dictionaries distributed across DC public and charter schools (rotaryclubdc.org, link.springer.com).

Why These Donations Matter

• Boost Literacy: Providing personal dictionaries early builds essential vocabulary and reading skills.
• Community & Civic Engagement: RCDC’s school visits model service, values, and community leadership.
• Deep Impact: RCDC’s sustained commitment—tens of thousands of dictionaries—highlights the power of consistent, local action.