Thank you, Tom Evans, for opening your home for our Holiday Party. It was a wonderful evening and a great way to close out 2025 and welcome 2026.
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On Saturday, December 20, Riverside East Rotary spent the day ringing bells for the Salvation Army outside the Stater Bros on Mary Street. Our Rotarians covered shifts throughout the day, greeting shoppers and spreading a little holiday cheer along the way.
Thanks to everyone who volunteered and to the generous community members who donated, we raised just under $500 to support the Salvation Army’s important work during the holiday season. A great example of Rotary service making a local impact!
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Today Riverside East Rotary was joined by Sharon Morris with Voices for Children. Voices for Children provides volunteer advocates for children in Foster Care in Riverside County. These advocates help to provide a consistent presence in the children’s lives, solve problems, and advocate for their needs.
We also got to enjoy a rousing rendition of Tis the Season from our own Dave Schull.
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Riverside East Rotary enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the Community Settlement Association Christmas Party on December 12. This long-standing annual tradition brought plenty of smiles as St. Nick made a special appearance, spreading holiday cheer and helping deliver gifts to the kids.
Pictured from left to right: Gary Christmas, Richard Lemire (DGE), Ken Gutierrez, Tauna Mallis, Teresa Medina (Boys & Girls Club, Settlement House Program Manager), Shirley Coates, Tim Mallis, Suzette Gutierrez, Christopher Cox, and Frank Gutierrez.
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Sending Students Off to PRYDE! 
This morning, Riverside East Rotary had the privilege of sending local students off to PRYDE (Personal Responsibility in Youth Development & Education) — a Rotary-sponsored leadership program designed to empower young people through confidence-building, teamwork, communication, and personal growth. PRYDE gives participants a safe, structured environment where they step out of their comfort zones, discover their potential, and build skills that will stay with them for life.
We’re proud to support opportunities that inspire the next generation of leaders and look forward to hearing about their experiences when they return!
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Today we were joined by our very own Susan Freeman who shared insights on the Art and Science of Persuasion! Susan is the Founder and CEO of the Conscious Inclusion Company and Freeman Means Business.
She delivered an engaging presentation, showing how effective communication, storytelling, and inclusivity can influence minds, build consensus, and inspire action. Her real-world examples and clear guidance sparked meaningful conversation among our members, and she patiently answered all of our questions.
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This month our club donated 800 cans of cranberry sauce to The Salvation Army to support their holiday meal efforts for families in need. Thanks to Finn for facilitating this!
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Our club had a great turnout at the Rotary District 5330 Foundation Dinner, joining fellow Rotarians from across the district to celebrate the incredible impact of the Rotary Foundation. It was an inspiring evening that highlighted the power of service, generosity, and working together to create lasting change.
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Thank You to RCC’s Nursing Program! 
Riverside East Rotary had a wonderful visit with the Riverside City College School of Nursing! A big thank you to Dean Tammy Vant Hul and the entire RCC team for hosting us and giving us an inside look at their impressive Nursing program including the “Nursing Simulation Lab”. Our members enjoyed learning more about the program and had plenty of great questions answered by the RCC staff.
We’re also proud to support their innovative comfort dog program, where dogs are trained to detect cortisol levels and provide support. Our club presented a $500 check to help as they get this new initiative off the ground.
Riverside East Rotary looks forward to continued collaboration with the School of Nursing!
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Thank you to District Foundation Chair Patsy Orr for joining us today and sharing about the impact our dollars make. We were also happy to present Rose Mayes with a check to support the Fair Housing Council’s Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway.
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