President Adam Manning welcomed everyone to the Centerville Rotary Club and led reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian Hayes provided the prayer. Brad Thorp led singing of God Bless America.
Today’s quote provided by Don Overly: "Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting." Bernard Meltzer (American radio personality)
Thanks to today’s greeters, Carol Kennard & honorary member, Kaycee Kennard.
Welcome to
visitor Scott Fisher from the Oakwood Club who shared information about an upcoming fundraising event called
That Day in May (which actually occurs over 2 days). On May 16, there will be a pancake breakfast, 5k/10k fun run, food trucks, parade, car show, games, dog show, raffle, and alumni baseball game. Then on May 18, a benefit Golf Outing. Cost is $150/individual or $600/foursome, and includes contests, hot buffet lunch, drink tickets, 19th hole cocktail party, silent auction (mostly bourbon/wine.) Runs from 10 am - 4 pm, then the 19th Hole social, all at the Dayton Country Club. For all of the details, visit the website,
https://www.oakwood-rotary.org/
Today’s Announcements:
- Artemis II launch yesterday was quite a sight to see and a celebration of NASA's success.
- Our first highway cleanup this spring will be Apr 11, 8 am - noon. Please sign up to help. You never know what surprises you might find!
- May 1 is the District Gala at the Lodge at VOA Metropark with the keynote speaker being the RI director for zones 30 & 31. Check your email for all of the details.
- May 8 is our golf outing and we still need volunteers to help that day. Please see the email from Arnie and sign up!
- District 6670 is seeking an Administrative Assistant to work 20-30 hours/month. Check the email for details.
- Frank Perez announced Tuesday is the next Coffee Club and we will be talking about the first service project sponsored by this group. Meet at ContempoRoast at 7:30 am.
- Brian Hayes warned that everyone is gonna get a bill - so pay it!
Happy Bucks this quarter will be donated to Operation Warm, providing winter coats to children in need in partnership with Hannah’s Treasure Chest.
Pat Beckel was our Sergeant at Arms today with assistance by Brian Hayes.
Happy Bucks were generously given for:
- Pat B celebrated 5 year anniversary of The Humidor.
- Adam M for welcoming Braden Huffman here today.
- Gina S said Pat is wearing her favorite color today.
- Dan S was happy to see Dave Trout here today.
- Raj G for the nice weather today.
- Ron H for today’s guests and getting his car back without any signs of the deer damage.
- David W got his boxwoods treated before the rain thanks to Lee’s farm report advice last week.
- Rand O for being in attendance for 10 weeks in a row. He leaves to hike the Appalachian Trail on the 12th.
- Jim H said it was great to see the young guests. His great grandson was excited for the space launch.
- Wyatt T was so late his dad stole his name tag.
- Chuck K for today’s guests and wished all a great Easter.
- Lee H’s farm report was all about Yaks, which are typically found in the upper areas of Malaysia but can also be found in Maysville, OH. He said they are a good animal for many reasons - sure footed, good wool fiber, and very gentle. You can eat the meat, which is very lean as the fat is on the outside just under the skin/fur not like cattle, where the fat is mottled throughout. Yak milk is pink but tastes like cow milk. Lee encouraged all to go visit the Yak Farm.
- Jeff S is traveling to visit grandkids, then to London, and Amsterdam for 2 weeks.
- Carol K for our young visitors today, and is especially enjoying time with her granddaughters this week as they are on spring break.
- Visiting Rotarian, Scott quipped Yak burgers and milkshakes will be served at their golf outing.
- Brad H for today’s guests, and noted there’s nothing better for the kids than spending spring break with Rotarians! He and Braden drove to Florida for a couple of days, with Braden driving all through Alabama. Also spent some time in Nashville on the way home. Daughter Bella will be here next week.
- Harvey S doesn’t have any money since he filed his income taxes.
- Elda GG for Braden & Kaycee and Operation Warm.
- Tej J was happy he will be in the Dominican Republic officiating his friend’s wedding next week.
Our speaker today was Tej Joshi, Director of Development and Community Engagement with A Special Wish Foundation of Southwest Ohio.
Tej Joshi joined us previously to talk about Good Day Dayton, and this week he returned with a new mission close to his heart: supporting A Special Wish Foundation of Southwest Ohio, an organization granting wishes to children facing life‑threatening illnesses.
The foundation serves families across 20 counties in the Dayton and Cincinnati region, partnering closely with Dayton Children’s, Cincinnati Children’s, and Shriners. Their philosophy is simple but powerful: “Wishes Bring Hope.” For children navigating frightening diagnoses, hope can be transformative. It brings light into dark moments and strengthens their ability to push through treatment. And unlike years past, wishes aren’t limited to terminal cases—any child, ages 2-20, with a qualifying life‑threatening condition may be referred.
This year, the organization celebrated a major milestone: its 2,000th wish granted. With only four employees on staff, most every dollar raised goes directly toward creating meaningful experiences for these families.
Wishes are as unique as the children themselves. While Disney trips remain popular, they’re far from the only dream:
- One girl’s wish was to meet Cardi B. When illness prevented travel, the foundation arranged a personalized video message.
- A young aspiring astronaut was connected with NASA for an unforgettable experience.
- McKenna, the only known child with her rare genetic disorder, enjoyed a magical trip to Disney World and the Christmas parade—giving her family precious time without the weight of medical appointments.
Importantly, wishes include the entire family. Siblings often sacrifice normal childhood experiences while supporting a brother or sister through illness. These moments of joy belong to all of them.
The foundation grants around 50 wishes each year, and with an uptick in teenage cancer diagnoses, some wishes now include practical support like college tuition assistance or help securing a car.
The foundation relies on donors, sponsors, and community events to make these experiences possible. Several opportunities are coming up:
The Wish Open at Pickleball Kingdom — April 25
- Expected attendance: 300–400 people. Court sponsorships are available.
A Wish for a Better Tomorrow — Sept 9
- A brand‑new fundraising event with sponsorship opportunities.
Sponsor A Wish Program
- Businesses or groups can raise funds to fully sponsor a child’s wish and meet the family they’re supporting.
Sparkles of Joy Program
- All wish families from the year are invited to special experiences, including Dayton Dragons games or meeting the Blue Angels at the Dayton Air Show.
The foundation’s roots run deep in the community. Bill from Bill’s Donuts—long known for his generosity—funded the very first wish and they continue to be a steadfast supporter.
Tej left the TV station to find purpose with a non-profit, and A Special Wish Foundation was a perfect fit. He is also launching a new content‑creation brand focused on uplifting local stories. Businesses will be able to receive a full hour‑long feature at no cost, with a soft launch planned for late May or early June. His goal is simple: bring people together and shine a light on the good happening in our region.
