The Laguna Niguel Rotary Club has completed its annual Dictionary Project for 3rd Graders. Every 3rd grade student in Laguna Niguel elementary schools--and select schools in Dana Point and Aliso Viejo--received a free dictionary from the Rotary Club. This project recognizes the fact that 3rd grade is a critical stage in a child's academic development. "From kindergarten through second grade, kids learn to read," says Dr. Bill Nguyen DDS, a Past Rotary Club president who spearheads the project. "But from third grade on, children read to learn." As a child immigrating from Vietnam, as directed by his father, Dr. Nguyen learned to speak English by reading the dictionary and memorizing 50 words a day. Dr. Nguyen shares this story with students each school the Club visits and the impact of this long term program has been validated again and again. "We've had several students approach us in the high school and college years to share their gratitude and tell us that they still have the dictionaries they received from the Laguna Niguel Rotary Club in third grade. It's a very rewarding to hear that," said Nguyen. The Laguna Niguel Rotary Club has completed its annual Dictionary Project for 3rd Graders. Every 3rd grade student in Laguna Niguel elementary schools--and select schools in Dana Point and Aliso Viejo--received a free dictionary from the Rotary Club. This project recognizes the fact that 3rd grade is a critical stage in a child's academic development. "From kindergarten through second grade, kids learn to read," says Dr. Bill Nguyen DDS, a Past Rotary Club president who spearheads the project. "But from third grade on, children read to learn." As a child immigrating from Vietnam, as directed by his father, Dr. Nguyen learned to speak English by reading the dictionary and memorizing 50 words a day. Dr. Nguyen shares this story with students each school the Club visits and the impact of this long term program has been validated again and again. "We've had several students approach us in the high school and college years to share their gratitude and tell us that they still have the dictionaries they received from the Laguna Niguel Rotary Club in third grade. It's a very rewarding to hear that," said Nguyen. Join us for an Oktoberfest celebration and fundraiser! Saturday October 22 from 5-9pm. Get more information and buy tickets at http://lnrotaryevent.com
Please join us in congratulating Laguna Niguel Rotary Club Past President, and Rotaract Chair, Jim McGinley, on being selected as the 2021 Laguna Niguel Citizen of the Year!But Rotary Club is not the only organization through which Jim provides community service. For the Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce, Jim is currently vice-chair; and he has served as a board member, membership chair, and ambassador for the organization for the past seven years. He has volunteered for his church, St. Timothy Catholic Church here in Laguna Niguel, and has impacted countless families and individuals through his years of leadership and service with the Knights of Columbus organization.
Jim has also served our City of Laguna Niguel governance directly, through his time as chairman and vice-chairman of the City of Laguna Niguel Parks & Recreation Department. He held leadership positions with the Laguna Niguel Sports Advisory Committee and is the founder of the Laguna Niguel Senior Games.
At our latest meeting, Laguna Niguel Rotary Club's special guest, Tatiana Shabelnik, spoke of her life-long friend, a Ukrainian woman and her young son that fled to Poland and were in need of financial support and a place to stay. Our generous Rotarians immediately pledged to provide financial assistance individually for this family in need of our help. Tatiana has also been in contact with Rotary Clubs in Poland and was very grateful for our donations. In response to the deepening refugee crisis, the Rotary Foundation Trustees have decided to prioritize contributions made to the Disaster Response Fund until April 30, 2022, to support disaster response grants for districts affected by these events. These expedited disaster response grants can be used to supply water, food, medicine, shelter, and clothing. This is primarily an appeal for individual donations so please feel free to give any amount possible. Please follow this link if you would like to make a personal donation for this worthy cause.
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
United States of America