Son's donation inspires mother

Bill Bloomfield Jr., and his mother, Peggy Bloomfield, share a laugh during their inductions into the Arch C. Klumph Society on 27 October at RI World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA. Rotary Images

Margaret M. "Peggy" Bloomfield, a member of the Rotary Club of Westwood Village (Los Angeles), California, USA, was inspired by her son's generous support of The Rotary Foundation.

After Bill Bloomfield Jr. made a $1 million contribution to the Annual Programs Fund, Peggy matched it by making her own $1 million gift. Both contributions were the largest single donations ever made to the fund.

"Life is a gift, so it's important to enjoy it," says Bill, a member of the Rotary Club of Manhattan Beach. "It's also our responsibility to leave the sandbox better than we found it. Both of these mottos are the essence of what Rotary is all about."

Peggy and her son were among a number of Rotarians inducted into the Arch C. Klumph Society in late October at RI World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. The society honors people who give at least $250,000 to the Foundation.

In addition to the Annual Programs Fund, Bill supports PolioPlus and has served on international service projects to build homes in Mexico.

Peggy has supported the Ambassadorial Scholarships program by hosting an annual dinner for scholars.

William T. Ratliff Jr.

William T. Ratliff Jr., a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, Alabama, since 1976, gives to the Foundation to support the polio eradication effort and promote peace throughout the world.

Ratliff, who was inducted into the society during a ceremony on 28 October, has given generously to PolioPlus and the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution, among other Foundation programs. His family's foundation has also supported several other institutions, including the McWane Science Center, United Way of Central Alabama, the Birmingham Museum of Art, and the University of Alabama.

In 2006, the Alabama chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored Ratliff with its outstanding philanthropist award.

Barbara Maves

Barbara Maves, past president of the Rotary Club of Muncie Sunrise, Indiana, was inducted into the society during a ceremony 28 October. Maves says she gives to the Foundation to support education for impoverished women and children.

"Educating women and giving them the tools toward self-support is a crucial way to end world poverty," she says. "Matching Grants are a great example of how the Foundation can help get projects accomplished that help with this goal."

Maves is a founding board member for TEAMwork for Quality Living, which connects volunteers with social service agencies to prevent racism and poverty. She also served as CEO of Planned Parenthood of East Central Indiana for 25 years.

Her service to District 6560, a Future Vision pilot district, includes membership on its global grants committee.

Marie Ingalls

The Foundation posthumously inducted Marie Ingalls, of Birmingham, Alabama, into the society on 28 October.

A member of the Rotary Club of Shades Valley, Ingalls was an active leader in her community, supporting health care, women's leadership, humanities, and the arts.

In 1991, she was named an outstanding philanthropist by the Alabama chapter of the National Society of Fundraising Executives (now the Association of Fundraising Professionals). The City of Birmingham named her Woman of the Year in 1984.

Read about more recent inductees into the Arch C. Klumph Society.