As part of Portland Rotary’s long-standing commitment to childhood education, we promote literacy by reading to elementary school students in Portland, both during the school year and summer.

Through our Boots for Kids drive, Rotary provides 150 pairs of new boots new Mainers and homeless children in partnership with Lamy Wellehan.

Through Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program, this year a Deering High School student has the unique opportunity to study in Japan, and the club will host a student from Valencia, Spain, all with the aim of promoting goodwill, international understanding, and friendship.

Every year, we fund up to ten scholarships to Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) – a four-day Experiential Leadership Training for rising sophomores at Camp Hines.

Rotary annually funds eight Youth Service Award scholarships ($1,000/each) for students from each of Portland’s high schools and for a student attending the University of Southern Maine who is a part of USM’s New Mainer Community.