Brookhaven (Atlanta) Rotary Club

Service Above Self

General Information

Marion Bunch, a member of the Dunwoody  Rotary Club in Atlanta, Georgia, is a mother who lost her son to AIDS in 1994.  Because of her personal experience and because of the alarming growth rate of HIV/AIDS among the young people in the United States, Marion launched an AIDS education program in the fall of 1998.  The Dunwoody Rotary Club helped her gain momentum throughout the District.   AID Atlanta is a critical stragetic partner in this endeavor because they provide the AIDS speakers and implement the program.

This unique program introduces speakers that have already contracted the HIV virus to the youth in Georgia middle schools and high schools.   The primary purpose of the program is to change the teenagers' attitude of being invincible to this disease in addition to teaching them HIV facts.  The teenagers learn first-hand how easy it is to contract the HIV virus.  The program is based on abstinence and does not promote “safe sex.”  

During the 1999-2000 school years, 36 Rotary clubs in District 6900 combined their efforts to sponsor this program.  They provided a powerful and realistic learning experience to approximately 30,000 students in 64 schools.   The youth leaders in RYLA and the Interact clubs took a leadership role by assisting in the publicity and rollout of the program.  Dunwoody Rotarians and AID Atlanta developed a package of materials for the school administrators in our State.  It clearly states Rotary's commitment to youth and international health efforts in a written format for reference.  

Using the AIDS Education/Prevention moniker, Rotary District 6900 is demonstrating the progressive nature of Rotary – and effectively utilizing the powerful credibility of our organization to add significance to this problem.  Though Rotary is clearly more visible in the community with people and in the press, our visibility is tied to a sincere effort to make a difference in the lives of our youth.   By promoting the health of young people, we are promoting Rotary at its finest.

For further information you can visit Rotary District 6900’s Web Site.

Rotary District 6900 AIDS Education Program

A Brief Overview