During the months of January and February 2021, Orem Rotary held its annual Orange fundraiser. This fundraiser delivers fresh picked California oranges to Orem and other nearby residents. The money donated by those who buy oranges is indispensable to accomplishing Orem Rotary Initiatives, such as Coats for Kids, which provides winter coats to children in need.

Members of the Orem Rotary did a very good job with this service project. Among the leaders I would like to name Orem Rotary President Dean Robinson who sold 31 boxes, and Orem Rotary President-designate Lynn Hillstead who sold 25.5 boxes. In total Orem Rotary members sold 140 boxes for $5,600. 

UVU Rotaract contributed to this Orem Rotary service project as a continued partnership between students and local Rotarians. During December 2020 UVU Rotaract contributed to the Orem Rotary fundraising campaign to support Coats for Kids project.     

This year, Utah Valley University Rotaract welcomed several new members to the club, who supported Orem Rotary by participating in this fundraiser: Jeff Hibbard, Cody Conklin, Dallas Karren, and Byan Alghanmi each sold boxes of oranges to family members, neighbors, and coworkers. In total, the club sold $800 worth of oranges to more than 25 people.

Not only does this money support community service endeavors, it is also an essential initiative for UVU Rotaract to contribute to the visit of UVU and Orem Rotary delegation and presentation at the 65th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65) next month. For the first time, this highest UN gender-focused forum will be held virtually, allowing more participants from all around the world to attend than ever before. Our delegation will be led by Dallas Karren, President of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF) a coalition of student clubs at UVU. We are scheduled to speak about UVUs advocacy for mountain women and families, state of Utah as one of the models of sustainable development and students’ role in those activities on March 22, 2021.  UIMF, Orem Rotary and Rotaractors have been highlighted already in the official statement E/CN.6/2021/NGO/125, distributed by UN ECOSOC as an official document on 13 December 2020.

As President of UVU Rotaract, I was able to employ UVU’s Student Engaged Learning Model (SEL), in coordinating efforts of members of our club, delegating responsibilities to find donors, and UVU students gained professional experience, learning how to fundraise, find resources, and advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN among community members and donors. This experience allows us to move forward with even more confidence as we present at the CSW in March and advocate also through such service projects for  mountain women and communities. .

We are grateful for the support and desire of Orem Rotary members to involve every month Rotaractors in service projects like this. Many thanks to all of those who purchased oranges and supported these positive initiatives which improve our community and help us gain professional skills.

Yana Andersen, UVU Rotaract President