I Belong
Hear from just a few of the members from the Rotary Clubs of Southeastern PA who tell their own personal story of why they joined and how it provides fulfillment and joy in their lives.
Meet Kaitlyn Pacheco. An invitation to a Rotary meeting led to a life-changing experience for Kaitlyn. She’s a member of the West Chester Passport Club. She was invited to a meeting at one of the member’s home and was immediately felt like she belonged in Rotary. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. She loves animals so she started a pet-sitting business on the side to help her income.
Meet Dennis Wallace. His passion for sailing led him to become a Rotary member. He explains his "aha moment" that happened on a volcanic Caribbean island. A member of the Greater West Chester Sunrise Rotary, Dennis also talks about the positive impact Rotary makes on young people around the world.
Meet Donna Henry. She’s a member of the Rotary Club of Upper Darby/Lansdowne and served as a long-time chair of the Youth Exchange committee. She talks about the life-changing experiences students can have while living in other countries. Donna also talks about the reasons she stays active in Rotary and why she encourages others to get involved in the service organization.
Meet Michael Kraus. He’s a young executive with Scouting America. In this video, he shares why volunteering matters more than ever. Michael encourages young professionals to explore Rotary as a way to give back, grow professionally, and build meaningful connections. He believes service can be both fun and fulfilling.
Meet Tommy Denlinger. He’s a “twenty-something” member of the Conshohocken-Plymouth-Whitemarsh Rotary Club. Tommy works in finance and loves Rotary’s motto of “service above self.” In this video, you'll hear what drew him to the organization and why he thinks other young professionals would benefit from volunteering.
Meet Thomas McKeon. He has earned the honor of becoming the first in SE PA District’s Ambassador for WASH-RAG, the Rotary Action Group promoting Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. Thomas—whose background is in public health and geographic data science—is passionate about Water, Sanitation and Hygiene and looks forward to connecting Rotary clubs with resources that can help with environmental health literacy.
Meet Pam Rich-Wheeler. She’s a member of the Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill and the Founder and Executive Director of the Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise. Her organization works with youth and adults learn the skills needed to become a successful business person. Pam outlines how Rotary helps develop leadership skills in youth and adults.
Meet Brad Perry. In this video, Brad, a musician and music teacher, talks about why being in Rotary hits all the right notes. For him, Rotary offers connection and opportunities to do meaningful work. Before joining Ardmore Rotary, he was a member of the Lake Tahoe club for 10 years.
Meet Christina Foster. In this video, hear Christina talk about the Langhorne Pet Fair and all the reasons she enjoys being part of her Rotary club. Now retired after a really stressful job, she joined Rotary to fill her day with worthwhile service and give back to the community that she loves. She also talks about how she met so many new friends through Rotary.
Meet Chinonso Eziefule. He’s from the Rotary Club of Philadelphia. In this video, you’ll get to know Chino and why he loves the diversity of people he meets through Rotary. He also encourages everyone to try out a Rotary meeting or service project noting that it feels good to get involved and there's always fun to be had.
Meet Kyle Rheiner. He is a member of West Chester Rotary. In this video, he talks about his passion for Rotary and helping others. He also explains the motivation behind organizing a retreat for Rotary club leaders. He’s also an active dad who coaches kids in softball, basketball, and lacrosse. He’s been a member for nearly ten years and describes Rotary gatherings as his “happy place.”
Meet Kimberly Praria. She’s a member of the Levittown-Fairless Hill Rotary. In this video, Kimberly speaks of her love of history, making connections, and Scottish country dancing. She serves as the Executive Director of the Historic Fallsington, Inc. not-for-profit that dedicated to preservation and restoration of an historic village in lower Bucks County.
Meet Stacey Ballard. Always community service minded, she knows the positive impact that volunteers can make. Stacey loves how Rotary brings great people together who have a passion for making a difference. She encourages people to check out different clubs and then join “the one you most click with.” Hear about her favorite service project for Ann’s Heart, which provides critical services including shelter, housing case management, and food programs to vulnerable populations.
Meet Dr. Cheryl Snipes-Burkett. She credits a mentor with getting her to be an active Rotary member and believes involvement in Rotary has propelled her as a leader. Proud of the positive impact her small club has on the community, she describes Flags for Heroes as her favorite service project.
Meet Alyssa Harnish. Raised in a small rural town, her membership in Rotary has opened her eyes to new issues and experiences. She loves the global connections she’s made through Rotary membership. She appreciates the opportunities she has had to help young people through Outward Bound. Alyssa describes her Rotary friends as being like her second family.
Meet Alissa Griffith, a pharmacist. Community service runs in her family and Alyssa credits Rotary for strengthening her leadership skills. She likes knowing that people appreciate and respect Rotary for the ways they serve the community. Service projects with the Chester County Food Bank are the ones she most enjoys.
Meet Kerry Costello-Leraris, a special education teacher. Growing up with food insecurity, Kerry is especially sensitive to the plight of others. Determined to pay it forward, Kerry is very involved in hunger relief projects. She refers to Rotary friends as “friends for life.”
Meet Diana Larisgoita. Her association with Rotary started decades ago when she was 25 in Argentina. Hear how she came to Philadelphia and founded a Latino Rotary club. Diana talks about the ways her club helps Interact and Rotaract students. She also highlights the international projects her club is involved with including a Dominican Republic Water project.