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Rotary News

Southeastern PA member profiles, happenings, projects and impacts, locally and around the world.

Jay Pennie Jay Pennie

SE PA Rotary Provides Vocational Scholarships

For the past several years, The Gundaker Foundation of Rotary District 7450 has provided deserving students in our district with the opportunity to apply for Vocational Education Scholarships.

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Brian Winter Brian Winter

Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders - RYLA 2026

We’re proud to host the 2026 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a one-day leadership development experience designed for high-school sophomores and juniors across the Philadelphia region. This year’s program will take place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Penn State Malvern campus. RYLA brings together young people who show curiosity, potential, and a desire to grow.

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Peace and Conflict Resolution Jay Pennie Peace and Conflict Resolution Jay Pennie

Peacebuilding and Public Health

I never imagined myself here—a Rotary Peace Fellow studying for a Masters degree in Public Health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. My earliest dreams were of being a doctor, directly treating patients, alleviating their pain, sending them home healthy, and witnessing their conditions improve over time. These aspirations were shaped profoundly by my experiences with the healthcare system in my home country, Yemen.

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Basic Education and Literacy Jay Pennie Basic Education and Literacy Jay Pennie

Empowering Children Through Hands Across the Sea

As avid sailors, my husband Dennis Wallace and I have explored the eastern Caribbean for years. Amid its beauty, we’ve also witnessed a deeper issue — a widespread literacy gap. Many adults read at only a fourth-grade level, making everyday life a challenge. And when parents struggle with reading, it’s difficult for them to support their children’s learning, creating a cycle that’s hard to break.

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