Our club debuted its First Signature Service Project, Ready to Read, in 2009 to encourage a love of reading, invest our members’ time in Birmingham City Schools, and help students develop creativity and critical thinking skills.

The Rotaract Club of Birmingham places a library of books in every second grade classroom and provides volunteer reading buddies who visit classrooms twice a month to read aloud to students, discuss the book, and award incentive prizes.

Through this program, we are able to inspire over 2,000 children each year. 

In June of 2009, the Rotaract Club of Birmingham was honored to learn that Rotary International (RI) had recognized Ready to Read as the 2009 International Winner of Outstanding Rotaract Projects.

In the spring of 2014, our club launched our Second Signature Service Project, Ready to Succeed, which aims to increase the number of post-secondary scholarships and financial aid being applied for and awarded to students from Birmingham City Schools and to be a resource for high school students. These goals are achieved in two key ways:

• Engage: Rotaract members are paired with high school students, meeting frequently to serve as a resource and to help guide students through the college search process. Our members help keep students on track with for FAFSA, college application, and scholarship application deadlines. They also participate in fun team building activities, service projects, and school events like the annual homecoming tailgate.
• Prepare: Rotaract provides essential enrichment activities, such as college visits, mock interview sessions, assist with FAFSA applications, resume building and goal setting with students.

In 2016, our club was proud to be awarded a Regional Rotaract Outstanding Project Award from Rotary International for our Ready two Succeed initiative.

To submit scholarship information to be added to the database, click below.