Leaders highlight the power of gratitude at The Rotary Foundation Donor Summit

When she reflected on her experiences at The Rotary Foundation’s 2026 Donor Summit in Taipei, Taiwan, Vicki Puliz thought of “one simple word.”

That word was gratitude.

“Gratitude for each of you. For your generosity, your leadership, and the way you show up for one another and for the world,” said Puliz, the vice chair of The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. She addressed the summit on behalf of 2026-27 Trustee Chair Jennifer Jones.

“Gratitude has a way of bringing us closer. It reminds us that none of this happens alone and that every act of generosity matters,” Puliz added.

More than 1,000 donors attended the summit, held 15 June during the 2026 Rotary International Convention. The largest annual gathering of Foundation donors, it was among numerous convention events held for the people who help make Rotary’s work possible.

“When we talk about giving, we’re not just talking about today,” Puliz said. “We’re talking about values passed down, stories shared, and a belief in something bigger than ourselves.”

Donors’ enthusiasm for Rotary and commitment to its mission were apparent throughout the convention. Two ceremonies honored 40 new or elevated members of the Arch Klumph Society, which recognizes donors who have given US$250,000 or more. More than 300 people registered for The Rotary Foundation Unity Ball, and more than 200 registered for the Doing Good in the World Dinner.

Holger Knaack, the 2025-26 trustee chair, described the extensive scope of Rotary’s impact and thanked the attendees for their generosity.

“We have made real progress by working together across countries, across programs, and across generations,” he said. “This is what we mean when we say Unite for Good. It is also how Rotary opens opportunities — opportunities for communities to grow, for people to connect, and to create lasting change.”

Knaack noted that the Foundation has allocated US$5.5 billion to Rotary projects over the last century. These funds have supported efforts to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, help mothers and children, improve education, grow local economies, and protect the environment.

For Past District Governor Nellie Lin of Taiwan, the proof of Rotary’s global fellowship was found in a packet of spices. She received the unassuming gift from the Rotary Club of Cochin, Kerala, India, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Lin recalled how Rotary members around the world provided vital support, medical and otherwise, to communities affected by the pandemic.

“That year, thousands of global grants were funded worldwide. I had the opportunity to support 14 global grants by personal giving and fundraising,” she said. When the spices came in return, she said, “that moment reminded me that gratitude is one of the sincerest ways people of action build meaningful connections.”

Lin was joined onstage by her brother, District Governor-elect Nicky Lynn, and her mother, Judy Huang. All three are Arch Klumph Society members, part of a tradition of Foundation giving that has spanned generations. Lin said her father, Ricardo, helped charter the Rotary Club of Taipei East in Taiwan, and her family recommitted to Rotary after his death in 2009.

“I chartered the Rotary Club of Taipei Ricardo in honor of my father’s lifelong contributions to Rotary and The Rotary Foundation, and nearly all family members became Rotary members,” she said. “My mom always says, ‘Rotary is simple. Supporting The Rotary Foundation is one of the most meaningful ways to give.’”

Puliz echoed Lin’s theme when she addressed the audience at the event’s conclusion.

“Gratitude will continue to guide us in how we lead, how we serve, and how we recognize one another. Not just something we say, but something we live,” she said.

“As you leave this summit, carry that feeling with you. Think about the stories that moved you. Think about who you might invite on this journey. And think about how you will continue to help this work grow around the world.”

Learn more about The Rotary Foundation.