Local Rotaract Club Adopts Graham Elementary

’Tis the season of giving back, and that’s exactly what the Rotaract Club of Greater Fremont plans to do for hundreds of Newark students.

The club has adopted with aspirations to bring extracurricular activities and assistance to Graham students.

Rotaract club members will volunteer to head the programs, , which will be held after school. But to fund the programs Rotaract Club of Greater Fremont will be hosting fundraisers.

Their first will be the Gatsby Swing: A Vintage Affair, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at the Hilton Newark Hotel at $75 per ticket.

The goal is to raise $10,000, according to Mitty Chang, president of the Rotaract Club of Greater Fremont.

Proceeds will go toward numerous projects, including classroom supplies, after-school tutoring programs, an art and music program, and supplies to renovate the school’s garden and grounds.

“I know that’s an ambitious goal, but we’ll be doing everything we can,” Chang said.

And dedicating time to do everything they can to help students by adopting Graham Elementary was an easy decision, Chang said.

Chartered in April, the Rotaract Club of Greater Fremont has members between the ages 18 and 30.

Like Rotary International, Rotaract clubs encourage members to “actively participate in community service events both locally and internationally, professional development workshops, and business networking,” according to its website.

Instead of taking an international approach, the 34 members of the Rotaract Club of Greater Fremont decided to focus on finding a local cause to focus on.

Chang said the club hopes to build a long-term partnership with Graham Elementary School. The first programs the club hopes to offer to the children are art, music and sports, which were identified as needed programs through discussions with Graham staff, he said.

As part of these efforts, Rotaract Club of Greater Fremont has also collaborated with Avanzando, a Newark-based non-profit organization focused on empowering Latino youth, families and communities. 

Chang said Avanzando's role helps the Rotaract members work around language barriers with Spanish-speaking families.

“They have a lot of Spanish-speaking [families]. The biggest challenge will be getting parents to understand the students’ needs. We really want a bridge with the parents and work with them,” Chang said.

In 2010-11, the population of Hispanic students at Graham Elementary School was 63 percent, according to the California Department of Education.

He added that as the partnership grows, the club members hope to recruit students from local colleges and high schools to help as volunteers.

“We’re all about collaboration,” Chang said. “Maybe one day, every elementary school will be adopted by an organization.”

For more information on the club, visit http://meetup.rotaractfremont.org.