Rotarians make friends at Franklin

Mentoring went both ways for the fourth year in a row, as the Rotary Club of Salt Lake taught, mentored and even learned from students at Franklin Elementary School.

"It's just a win-win situation," said Jim Bromley, Rotarian and chairman of the Franklin Elementary School project. "It's a quality experience. We get an inner joy by helping kids."

Annually, the Rotary Club adopts a school as part of a service project. Tutoring, fund donation and programs are part of the volunteer efforts the club does for a school. For the past four years, the Rotary Club has adopted Franklin Elementary School in Salt Lake City.

"Franklin is part of the Rotary family," he said. "Franklin's very dear to our hearts."

Recently 90 Rotarians hosted 80 sixth-graders from Franklin for a lunch in Liberty Park to thank the children for their participation and to honor the Rotarians who were involved in the service project. More than 30 of the sixth-graders participated in one-on-one tutoring from members of the Rotary Club and all the Franklin students benefited from programs and services the club provided.

Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson thanked the Rotarians for "looking out not only for everyone's interests today but looking into the future" and for their "commitment to the young people in this community."

In addition to the mayor's comments, Salt Lake City School District presented the 2005 Exemplary Business Partner Award to the Rotary Club of Salt Lake for volunteering 1,800 hours to the school.

"I think it's made a huge difference," said Franklin teacher Christy Noble. Noble, the Rotary liaison, said when she started teaching at Franklin, students never talked about careers or what they wanted to do with their future. But since the Rotary Club started volunteering, Noble said students talk about careers and attending college. "They're more goal oriented than before."

Principal Dahlia Cordova agreed and said the Rotary Club's efforts have helped the low-income students.

"I think sometimes when you're in poverty, it (college) seems out of your reach," Cordova said. "It's (tutoring) made a real difference. Our kids have an opportunity to interact with distinguished people in the community who are exemplary role models."

Bankers, doctors, publishers, CEOs and other prominent Utahns tutored and mentored students. Cordova said students who were tutored improved their test scores.

"We attribute that to the Rotary's support," she said.