Rotary Club of One Hyderabad becomes world’s second 100% Paul Harris Society club
The milestone places Hyderabad at the forefront of Rotary’s philanthropic initiatives, with both the world’s first and second 100 per cent PHS clubs based in the city.
The achievement comes five years after the Rotary Club of Lake District (RCLD), Moinabad, became the world’s first such club.
Of the 36,500 Rotary clubs worldwide, including 4,800 in India, RC1H is the second to achieve the distinction, reflecting the collective commitment of its members to supporting The Rotary Foundation.
A 100 per cent Paul Harris Society club is one in which every member commits to contributing at least USD 1,000 annually to The Rotary Foundation, supporting its humanitarian programmes and community service initiatives.
A major highlight of the charter presentation ceremony was the presentation of three cheques worth USD 10,000, USD 25,000 and USD 26,000, amounting to a total contribution of USD 61,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary International, supports humanitarian initiatives worldwide. Its flagship PolioPlus programme, undertaken in partnership with organisations including UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has helped reduce polio cases globally by more than 99 per cent.
Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lake District, Moinabad, under Rotary International District 3150, the newly established RC1H has 27 members.
Addressing the gathering, District Governor Uday Pilani highlighted Rotary’s emphasis on service, fellowship and community engagement, noting that the organisation enables members to combine their individual strengths to achieve a greater collective impact.
“I have become an envy of District Governors as we produced two Paul Harris Society (PHS) Clubs—the first and the second in the world. It is an extraordinary achievement and a matter of immense pride for Rotary,” he said.
The newly installed RC1H President, Neeraj Goenka, outlined three key priorities for the club: fostering emotional connections among members, encouraging intellectual enrichment and creating a deeper sense of purpose through service.
“Through these initiatives, I aim to foster stronger bonds among members, encourage continuous learning, and create more meaningful opportunities to serve society,” he said.
Highlighting the club’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Goenka noted that 11 of its 27 members are women, reflecting its efforts to encourage wider participation and incorporate diverse perspectives into its service initiatives.
District Governor Uday Pilani administered the oaths of membership and office to the new members and office-bearers, presented the insignia of office to the President and Secretary, and formally handed over the charter to the club.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) will be the club’s principal focus during its first two years. Through initiatives promoting access to safe water, adequate sanitation and improved hygiene practices, RC1H aims to prevent disease, improve public health and support sustainable community development.
The charter presentation ceremony was followed by a panel discussion titled “Sanitation: A Super Vaccine”, featuring senior government officials, development-sector representatives and industry leaders.
The office-bearers of the Rotary Club of One Hyderabad are Neeraj Goenka, President; Vishal Tibrewala, President-Elect; Shruti Mallpani, Vice-President; Rahul Mitra, Secretary; and Nitin Ganeriwal, Treasurer.
The other office-bearers are Ayush Tulsyan, Joint Secretary; Niharika Nath, Membership Chair; Sushil Agarwal, Fellowship Chair; Pradeep Agarwal, Service Chair; Abhishek Nath, International Relations Chair; Shalini Modani, Vocational Chair; Madhvi Chandra, Education Chair; Ravi Reddy, Foundation Chair; Rigu Mittal, Sergeant-at-Arms; and Pooja Mitra, Image Director.
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