The Rotary Youth Fund raises €128,956 for the South Holland Youth Fund for Sports & Culture page

Rotary raises €128,956 for the South Holland Youth Sports & Culture Fund | June 24, 2024

Rotary raises €128,956 for the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture South Holland

On Sunday, June 23rd, 11 Rotary clubs from the Rijnland region and the province of South Holland organized the Sports and Exercise Day as part of the RijnlandRoute Festival. Through donations and the registration fees of the more than 6,300 participants in the sporting event, the Rotary Club raised an impressive €128,956.00! These proceeds will go entirely to the South Holland Youth Fund for Sports and Culture.

We make movement possible

"We make movement possible" was the theme of the day. This wasn't just about the brand-new Corbulotunnel/N434, which facilitates movement between the A4 and A44 highways. This section of the RijnlandRoute has been open to motorized traffic since July 5th. Last Sunday, over 6,000 walkers, runners, and cyclists took the unique opportunity to power through the tunnel during the 1 km KidsRun, the 5 km Time Run, the 8 km Time Run, the 5 km FunRun & Walk, and the 20 km bike tour.

"We make movement possible" also focused on increasing equal opportunities for young people to participate in sports. In the Netherlands, as many as 1 in 11 children grow up in poverty. Paying membership fees for a sports club is often financially unaffordable. This impacts not only the physical fitness of young people, but also their mental fitness and social development.

In addition to the efforts of over 200 Rotary volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the Sports and Exercise Day, the decision was also made to use the RijnlandRoute Festival to raise money for the South Holland Youth Fund for Sports and Culture. Rotary had previously expressed its ambition to raise €100,000, which would allow approximately 400 children from the Rijnland region, from families struggling with financial difficulties, to join a sports club or obtain their swimming certificate.

Over the past few months, members of the 11 collaborating Rotary clubs have been raising donations for this cause, ranging from large corporate contributions to small contributions from private individuals. Among others, Zorg en Zekerheid, CORPUS Experience, BURGY Bouwbedrijf, Zilveren Kruis, Rabobank, Royal FloraHolland, and Univé demonstrated their social and regional commitment to this worthy cause. The province of South Holland also made a generous donation: the participants' registration fees will be donated to the Youth Fund.

At the end of the successful and sunny Sports and Exercise Day, the chairmen of the collaborating Rotary clubs were able to present a check for no less than €128,956.00 to the board of the Youth Fund Sport & Culture South Holland.

Responses from Rotary & the Youth Fund

Chairman Joost Perquin of Rotary Oegstgeest e.o. reacted with pride. "It was wonderful that we, with over 200 volunteers from 11 regional Rotary clubs, were present today to get thousands of people moving through the new Corbulo Tunnel. But it's equally wonderful that we can offer hundreds of children in our region the opportunity to join a sports club. Of course, to get more exercise, but certainly to feel a sense of belonging and connection. Something we personally experience the value of within our Rotary club."

Chair Margriet Gersie of the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture South Holland is naturally delighted with the donation. "The amount is fantastic. Thanks to this support, hundreds of children will have the opportunity to actively participate in sports and cultural activities. We are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to participate and thrive. With these proceeds, we can truly make a difference in the lives of children."