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T he Rotary Foundation recently celebrated the induction of several new members into the Arch C. Klumph Society, which honors people who give at least US$250,000 to the Foundation.

Gene Sellers and his wife, Charlotte; M. Albin "Al" Jubitz and his wife, Nancy; and Edward T. Hager and his wife, Andrea, were among the inductees honored the third week of April during ceremonies at RI World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, where their portraits now hang in the Arch C. Klumph Gallery. Brett McKay Mitchell and his life partner, Yao-dong Tuan, who both died in a car accident in 2007, were also posthumously honored.

Read about the other April inductees .

Sellers

Gene Sellers, a certified public accountant and lawyer, joined the Rotary Club of Shades Valley, Alabama, USA, in 1973. He has served as district treasurer and as an officer and director of his club's education foundation. Sellers received his club's Vocational Service Award in 1994-95.

Sellers said a major reason that he and his wife, a retired high school teacher, continue to support the Foundation is its educational programs. He said he is particularly impressed with Rotary's partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the effort to eradicate polio. 

"The Gates challenge speaks highly about our Foundation and what we can accomplish," said Sellers. "What people give money for is exactly where the money ends up. It reaps tremendous benefits."

The couple support the Annual Programs Fund, the Permanent Fund, PolioPlus, and Ambassadorial Scholarships.

Jubitz

"Rotary is in my blood," said Al Jubitz, a third-generation Rotarian and member of the Rotary Club of Portland, Oregon, USA. "I'm extremely fortunate to be a part of such a great organization."

Jubitz joined his family's trucking business in 1969 and held various positions there, including manager of the hospitality division and corporate office. In 2001, he created the Jubitz Family Foundation, which funds local nonprofits that focus on early childhood education, environmental preservation, and world peace.

He is most excited by the Foundation's work to promote peace.

"The Foundation's commitment to the Rotary Peace Centers was key and really locked me in to giving to the Foundation," Jubitz said. "It's a big vision, proper purpose, with high integrity. It's exciting. We are seeding the planet with peacemakers."

He and his wife, Nancy, support the Rotary Peace Centers, PolioPlus, and the Permanent Fund. They have also hosted six Rotary Youth Exchange students.

Hager

Ed Hager, a retired physician, joined the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks, California, USA, in 1999. He has served on various club committees, including his club’s Rotary Foundation committee, which brought in $100,000 in six months during his term.

Hager is an avid investor and has held a seat on the Pacific Stock Exchange for six years. He served as the director of the California Rare Fruit Growers Inc., the largest amateur fruit-growing organization in the world, and is a volunteer at the Conejo Valley Botanic Garden.

"Rotary has developed a tremendous Foundation that helps fight poverty, hunger, and the lack of education, which are the three enemies of mankind," he said. "A lot of other organizations have overhead expenses when you contribute. When you give money to the Foundation, the staff adds to the value rather than subtracts from it." 

Hager and his late wife, Andrea, supported the Annual Programs Fund. He plans to establish a special fund within the Permanent Fund.

Mitchell and Tuan

Brett Mitchell joined Rotary in 1993 and was a member of the Rotary Club of Brisbane High-Rise, Queensland, Australia. He served as club secretary and board member.

Mitchell worked as a corporate regulator for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and was also a chartered accountant, certified information systems auditor, and certified practicing risk manager. He was a member of the finance committee for the Legacy Club of Brisbane and of the management committee for the Queensland Community Foundation.

Mitchell and his life partner, Tuan, supported the Permanent Fund and the Annual Programs Fund.

For more information:

• Learn more about the mission of The Rotary Foundation
• Learn more about recognition for individual and club donations
• Read about other Arch C. Klumph Society inductees