Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives through its Focus Areas
This month Rotary International asks us to Serve to Change Lives by preserving access to fresh water and quality sanitation in our community. Explore the possibilities with us at our meeting Wednesday at noon at Wick Park or virtually via Zoom.
This week, Rotary welcomes Michele Merkel, President of Junior Achievement of Eastern Ohio, as our featured speaker. With more than 27 years of service to Junior Achievement, including 17 years as President, Michele has led remarkable growth across the organization. What began as a single after-school program has expanded into more than 400 in-school and after-school programs, reaching over 14,000 students annually.
Michele will highlight the impact of Junior Achievement Discovery & Finance Park, where students gain real-world financial literacy and career readiness skills. A dedicated community leader, Michele continues to strengthen opportunities for youth across the Mahoning Valley. Join us for an inspiring program showcasing education, leadership, and workforce development in action.
Recipients of the Rotary Club of Youngstown Scholarships at Youngstown State University broke bread with us April 15 at the Wick Park Pavilion.
In collaboration with the YSU Foundation, RCY annually awards six $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from public and parochial high schools in the city.
Here are this year’s impressive winners:
Jonniece Moorer, of East High School, has a 3.76 GPA and plans to major in psychology. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a Student Ambassador and group leader of her school’s Destination Imagination team for creative problem-solving and community service.
Bryana Rosendary, of Youngstown Rayen Early College, plans to major in pre-nursing. Her hobbies include reading, crafting, and baking.
Michaela Wilder, of Chaney High School, chose pre-dental hygiene as her major because of her passion to work in themedical field. She wants to advance this opportunity to become an orthodontist.
Pierce Jones, of Cardinal Mooney, plans to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and is one of five children. His father became superintendent of the Diocese of Youngstown schools, which brought them here during Pierce’s junior year of high school. In addition to his academic achievements, he enjoys playing golf, basketball, and tennis.
Deion Miller, of Valley Christian, plans to major in business.He has maintained a GPA of 3.4 while balancing the demands of athletics, showcasing his discipline and time management skills. As a captain of the football team, he helped to build a positive and competitive team culture. He will continue his academic and athletic pursuits at YSU.
Alexander Simon, of Ursuline High School, is the recipient of the Edward J. Hulme Scholarship, named for a late Rotarian who strongly demonstrated Service Above Self. Alex, with a GPA of 3.88, plans to major in accounting. He is a member of the National Honor Society, varsity athlete in basketball, golf, and tennis, and volunteer at school, St. Maron Parish, and local organizations.
We also congratulated Genevieve Ramey, an eighth grader from Lincoln PK-8 in Warren, on winning the WFMJ-TV Regional Spelling Bee and presented her with a cash award. She will represent our area at the 101st National Scripps Bee in Washington, D.C. during Memorial Day week.
Best wishes to all Rotary Scholars!
SPOTLIGHT ON READING LIBRARY
Ohio’s District Governors Elect have selected Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio as this year’s nonprofit to support. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library promotes early childhood literacy by helping to fund and distribute a free monthly book program for children from birth to age five.
In Ohio, the program expanded significantly in 2019 through the creation of the Ohio Governor’s Imagination Library, a public-private partnership that supports local affiliates across the state. Thanks to this collaboration, more Ohio children than ever before can receive books delivered directly to their homes—at no cost to families.
Rotarians and Rotary Clubs can support the Rotary for Reading campaign anytime between now and Saturday, April 4th. The winning District and Club will be announced at the All Ohio P.E.T.s Conference, along with the total amount fundraised by Rotarians. The fundraiser will support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Ohio's Local Program Partners and will cover the local cost of providing books each month. Rotarians can select how they would like to donate:
Donate at a District level: Your donation will be kept in the District and used to cover the local mailing cost of books within the Rotary District.
Donation at a Club level: This is the first time Clubs can direct their donation back to their community. A donation at the Club level will be used to cover the local cost of books within the county where the Club is located.
Currently, District 6650 is 3rd Place on the Leaderboard. With two weeks left of the initiative, now is the time for our club to pass the hat around and help us reach our donation goals.
Programs like the Imagination Library reflect the spirit of service shared by many Rotary clubs—investing in education, strengthening communities, and helping the next generation discover the lifelong joy of reading. 📚✨
SAVE THE DATE
School Cleanup, 10am, April 24th, Williamson Elementary/ Rayen Early College, 58 Williamson Ave., Youngstown, 44607
Thrive Mahoning Valley Fundraiser, 6pm - 9pm, April 29th, support the new legal immigration clinic with a night of dinner, dancing, drinks, and raffles.
Bike Belmont, 12pm / 1pm, May 17th, 260 Wick Park Ave, Youngstown, 44406 Sign Up
Ignite the Night, 5pm, July 6th, The Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater, 201 S Phelps St, Youngstown, OH 44503
Signing Operation Pollination Community Partnership Resolution
At this year’s Pollinator Palooza on May 9, community leaders and partners from across the Mahoning Valley will come together for a meaningful moment of collaboration: the signing of the Operation Pollination Community Partnership Resolution. Hosted just prior to the event’s 10 a.m. start, this brief, media-invited ceremony highlights a shared commitment to environmental stewardship and biodiversity.
The resolution is a voluntary statement that recognizes the essential role pollinators; such as bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, play in sustaining ecosystems and food systems. It affirms that biodiversity supports life at every level and acknowledges the urgent need to address pollinator decline through education, habitat restoration, and community engagement.
Organizations invited to sign include local governments, nonprofits, educational institutions, and community groups such as the Mahoning Soil and Water Conservation District, Mill Creek MetroParks, Youngstown State University, and the Rotary Clubs of Youngstown and Struthers, among many others.
By signing, partners commit to collaborative, locally driven actions—like planting pollinator gardens, reducing pesticide use, and supporting citizen science initiatives—to strengthen pollinator habitats and create a regional “nectar corridor.”
For the Mahoning Valley, this resolution represents more than a pledge—it is a unified step toward a healthier environment, stronger partnerships, and a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Read the full Operation Pollination Community Partnership Resolution. Please contact Elayne Bozick for more information on Sponsorship opportunities for Pollinator Palooza or becoming a signing member as part of the Community Partnership Resolution.
THIS WEEK IN ROTARY HISTORY
March 19, 1971: the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society of Youngstown presented their plans to establish a park on their McGuffey Homesite property in Coitsville Township.
