Our Projects

Healthy Smiles Project

Oral health is essential to overall health, yet cavities remain the most common chronic childhood disease in the U.S. Many children fear the dentist, avoid care, and suffer pain or infection that disrupts learning, playing, and speaking. Sherwood Rotary’s Healthy Smiles Project uses a fun, engaging, school-based presentation to teach kids about brushing, flossing, healthy habits, and why dental care matters. Partially funded by a matching grant from Rotary District 6150, this project helps prevent disease, boosts confidence, supports school success, and provides dental supplies to children who need them most—creating long-term benefits for families and the entire community.

Summer Reading Program

Each May, Sherwood Rotarians visit our elementary schools to help every 4th-grade student choose a brand-new Scholastic book to take home and keep. Many children have few—or no—books of their own, and this project helps spark a love of reading while building the foundation of a home library. Rotarians select age-appropriate titles, prepare the books with personalized labels, and distribute them in person, encouraging students as they pick their favorites. By supporting summer reading, this project helps prevent learning loss, inspires imagination, and fosters academic success for hundreds of Sherwood children each year.

College Scholarships

Sherwood Rotary’s Scholarship Program supports graduating seniors pursuing higher education. Rotarians review applications, conduct full interview days, and select recipients based on merit, service, and character. Partnering with local businesses and community sponsors, the club awards scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,000, paid directly to the students’ colleges or universities. At the annual ceremony, scholars are recognized alongside their families and community leaders. This project strengthens educational opportunity in Sherwood and reflects Rotary’s commitment to supporting students’ futures and promoting peace through education.

Ethics Awards

For more than 20 years, Sherwood Rotary has recognized middle and high school students who demonstrate exceptional ethical behavior—qualities like honesty, integrity, courage, and compassion. Teachers and administrators submit nominations with real-life examples, and Rotarians review each one to select the honorees. At a community ceremony, winners are celebrated along with their families and receive cash awards for their achievements. By honoring character over grades or athletic ability, this project elevates Rotary’s values, reinforces the Four-Way Test, and encourages ethical leadership among thousands of local students.

Purple Pinky Project for Polio Eradication

In partnership with the Sylvan Hills High School Interact Club, Sherwood Rotary participates in the global effort to eradicate polio. During Purple Pinky events, students and Rotarians raise awareness and funds by marking pinkies purple—symbolic of how children are marked after receiving the polio vaccine in many parts of the world. Through classroom presentations, school-based activities, and community fundraising, this project helps support Rotary International’s PolioPlus campaign. Together with Interact, we empower young leaders to take part in a historic global health mission and bring the world closer to ending polio forever.

Veterans Rock

Each year, Sherwood Rotary partners with local 5th-grade art classes to honor the men and women who have served our country. Students paint patriotic-themed rocks, which are then displayed at the Sherwood Veterans Memorial in time for Veterans Day. The project helps young people connect with the meaning of service and sacrifice, while creating a meaningful, community-wide tribute to our veterans. Rotarians coordinate with schools, collect the completed rocks, and set up the memorial display, ensuring that every veteran who visits feels appreciated and remembered.

Henson Park Clean-Up

As part of the Keep Sherwood Beautiful initiative, Sherwood Rotary has “adopted” Henson Park and its quiet wooded trail—one of the city’s hidden gems. Several times a year, Rotarians and volunteers gather to pick up litter, clear debris, and help maintain the natural beauty of the space. This ongoing project promotes environmental stewardship, encourages outdoor recreation, and helps ensure that families across Sherwood can enjoy a clean, safe, and welcoming park year-round.

Back to School Project

A Sherwood Rotary tradition for more than 25 years, this project provides school supplies, clothing, and essentials to local children in need. Partially funded through a matching grant from Rotary District 6150—and supported by our weekly “Make Change with Your Change” collections—it ensures students start the year prepared and confident. This long-standing effort reflects our club’s deep commitment to serving families in our community.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

RYLA is a district-sponsored, immersive weekend leadership camp where high school students build confidence, teamwork skills, and a deeper understanding of service above self. Each year, the Sherwood Rotary Club sponsors two students to attend this transformative experience, where they participate in hands-on challenges, group activities, and workshops led by Rotary leaders and mentors. Students return from RYLA inspired, empowered, and ready to lead in their schools and communities.