Longwood Rotary Club Drives Community Impact Year-Round

The Longwood Rotary Club in Kennett Square is making a significant impact in the community through its year-round volunteer efforts. As the holiday season approaches, Rotary members are actively engaged in various initiatives, including preparations for events at Longwood Gardens and increased support for local social service organizations. This commitment to “Service above Self” reflects the club’s dedication to fulfilling community needs.

Every Thursday at 07:00, nearly 100 business and professional leaders gather for breakfast meetings, showcasing their aspiration to foster goodwill. The diverse backgrounds of the members contribute to vibrant discussions about community service, ethics, and professional standards. During these meetings, they reaffirm Rotary’s 4-Way Test, which includes questions about truthfulness, fairness, and the benefits of their actions to the community. Notably, Longwood Rotarians have added a fifth question: “Is it fun?” emphasizing the importance of enjoyment in their efforts.

In an interview, Steve Maley, the Strategic Planning Director, discussed the club’s ambitious plans for 2026. Following a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment conducted in April with input from over forty social service organizations, the Rotary Club is focusing on a strategic direction for the next three to five years. The four key pillars of their plan, as outlined by the club president, Barry Ritz, are: Impact, Reach, Engage, and Adapt.

Maley noted, “Our Club is recognizing the importance of developing a plan that has a focus with a longer lasting impact. This is more than the ‘one and done’ projects.” The club aims to enhance service activities, ensure purpose-driven fundraising, and improve its community presence through an upgraded website and increased social media engagement.

The April Needs Assessment revealed a significant gap in community services related to Youth Development, particularly for young adults aged 17 to 25. This demographic is crucial for establishing educational and career goals. The Longwood Rotary Club has a network of experienced professionals who plan to assist these young adults in exploring career opportunities and gaining employment resources. This initiative is a natural progression from the Youth Development Forums held in previous years, with another planned for Spring 2026.

Youth support is not a new focus for the club, which has consistently recognized outstanding students from Kennett, Unionville, and Avon Grove high schools at their Thursday meetings. The annual Gala at Longwood Gardens has traditionally served as the club’s primary fundraiser, but Maley indicated that new strategies are under consideration. “As part of our Strategic Planning, we are looking at ways to increase our funds for social service organizations, including the possibility of establishing an endowment fund,” he said.

Founded in 1997, the Longwood Rotary Club is part of a global network of over 1.2 million members dedicated to various humanitarian efforts. Bonnie Korengel, a club member with extensive experience in Rotary International, highlighted some of the sustainable projects undertaken globally, which include literacy initiatives, maternal and child health programs, water and sanitation projects, and community development efforts focused on peace.

Maley, who has been a member of the Longwood Rotary Club for seven years, is a professional attorney leading Human Relations for a shipbuilding company in Philadelphia. He joined Rotary to provide community service opportunities for himself and his daughters, now aged 17 and 15. “Giving back is what it is all about. I also enjoy the fun and fellowship we share with a diverse group of caring individuals,” he stated.

The Longwood Rotary Club invites individuals interested in community service to attend their meetings every Thursday from 07:00 to 08:00 at Longwood Gardens. Attendees are encouraged to arrive between 06:30 and 06:45 at the main Visitor Center entrance, where a greeter will guide them to the meeting location. For those interested in learning more about the community’s history, Joan Holliday and Bob George’s book, “The Story of Kennett – Shaping the future one child at a time,” is available on Amazon and at local retailers.

For further inquiries or to connect with the Longwood Rotary Club, interested individuals can reach out via email at [email protected].