Carol Sherman learned to love philanthropy while she was a teenage member of B’nai B’rith, a Jewish service organization that supports educational and cultural activities. She brought her philanthropic spirit to RCY and was instrumental in the success of many projects. Read her favorite Rotary stories below.
Name: Carol Sherman
Years in Rotary: 19
Resident of: Naples, FL
Hometown: Youngstown
How long have you lived here? 70 years
What brought you here, or kept you here? Business and community interests
Education: Graduate of Youngstown State University.
Occupation: Promotional sales (retired).
Who is in your family circle? Husband, Bruce; two daughters and four grandchildren.
When you are not working, how do you like to spend your time? Golfing and playing pickleball
Why did you join Rotary? Support of community, especially our Put Kids First program at Harding Elementary School.
Why do you remain a Rotarian? I became an honorary member when we claimed residency in Naples this past year. I hope to attend meetings when I’m back in town.
Which Rotary Project resonates with you and your understanding of our community's needs? Put Kids First has always been the project that I feel met our community needs. Through mentoring, building the playground and developing Operation Warm we have given the children a hope for a better life. We really made a difference in their lives.
What does Rotary's motto "Service Above Self" mean to you? Doing something for others without looking for anything for myself.
What's a story of yours that you don't get to tell often enough? There are several stories that are special to me. One is attending the international [centennial] convention in Chicago with Scott Schulick and Bill Russell to sell our Royco products (Rotarians of Youngstown Company, a club fundraiser featuring hand-crafted items bearing the Rotary logo). We walked into the exhibit hall to see three pallets of products that had been placed inside our booth that had to be moved outside our booth. Afterwards, I nearly fell asleep while we ate dinner. At that same convention I watch Scott give a 10 minute sales pitch to a very pretty young woman who answered him with “no speak English.”
Another is building the playground at Harding when a young boy who had been following Frank Kishel around ran up to us and asked if I was his “boss-lady.” Frank and I shared many happy experiences together as co-chairs of PKF for 13 years.