While most people know the Whitefish Rotary Club for organizing the Magic of Christmas drive each holiday season and for flipping up pancakes for the pancake breakfast during the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the club supports several local and international causes.  

The Rotary Club last month awarded grants to four organizations. Whitefish Youth Softball, Whitefish Baseball, Whitefish Thunder Special Olympics, and Gap Fillers Flathead each received an award of $1,000 up to $1,500. 

Twice a year, the Rotary Club’s board reviews applicants for grants from locals and “tries to keep it balanced. It’s not huge, but it’s something,” said Giuseppe Caltabiano, former president. 

Internationally, they have supported education and clean water initiatives in Guatemala, true to Rotary International’s mission of bringing together business and professional leaders for goodwill around the world.  

But for Whitefish’s Rotary Club, small scholarships like these allow them to spread goodwill closer to home. Some of the club’s projects are annual and others are special projects, such as funding new bathrooms at Smith Fields in 2022. 

“We are strongly minded about our own community,” said Caltabiano. “The Rotary Club is humble but has done a lot.” 

Some people are not aware that there are two bodies of the organization in Whitefish — the Rotary Club, and the Rotary Foundation.  

The foundation is parallel to the club, but each operates separately. The foundation is a 501c3 that focuses on philanthropical efforts that go directly to Whitefish, whereas the club supports a wider realm of causes.  

Each has their own board of directors, but there has been a precedent of board members serving terms for both.  

The foundation was created around 40 years ago by involved, young members such as Lin Akey, Caltabiano said. The foundation focuses on philanthropy.  

People interested in learning about the Rotary Club of Whitefish are welcome to attend a luncheon meeting, held at the Moose Lodge each Tuesday from noon to 1 p.m. There is typically a guest speaker.  

“All the people you can think of, many nonprofits, come and speak at meetings,” Caltabiano said.  

“We’ve been growing. When I was president about three years ago, we were down to 25 members — now we’re at 42,” Caltabiano said.  

Caltabiano said that several of the club’s newer members “are younger people that give hope for the future.”