Service Projects

and scholarships

At Discovery Park of America, the Union City Rotary Pavilion stands as a place where our community comes together. As one of the park’s key covered outdoor venues, it’s hosted everything from live music and public celebrations to weddings, reunions, and family get-togethers—complete with a stage and the amenities needed to make events run smoothly. For us, it’s more than a structure with our name on it; it’s a reflection of what Rotary is about—creating spaces and opportunities that strengthen Union City, support local families, and make it easier for people to gather, celebrate, and build community.

Obion County Distinguished Speakers Foundation

The Obion County Distinguished Speakers Foundation brings nationally recognized speakers to our rural community to share insight on major issues and leadership—from government and global affairs to business, education, and service. Sponsored by the Union City Rotary Club, the program has welcomed notable guests such as Robert C. McFarlane, Dr. David Kay, Mrs. Fields founder Debra Fields, Captain Scott O’Grady, Jim Ellis (inspiration for Pride),  legendary jockey Pat Day, Vanderbilt professor Dr. Carol Swaim, and Leigh Anne Tuohy (The Blind Side). To honor academics, we also invite the top ten seniors from Union City, Obion County Central, and South Fulton to attend each event.

Obion County Reading Railroad

In March 2002, a group of Obion County residents launched Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library locally so every child from birth to age five could receive a free book each month. After early fundraising and outreach, the first children were registered in spring 2004; marking 20 years of service to our community.

Today the program is led by a volunteer board and is supported through three funding areas: Union City (Verhine Estate grant), Obion County (United Way and local fundraisers like the Celebrity Waiter dinner), and Rives (an endowment in memory of Archie and Annie V. Cultra). The cost is $2.20 per child per month ($26.40 per year), and a $132 gift endows one child for all five years. We operate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under the Union City Rotary Club with no administrative expenses, with accounting handled by Alexander, Thompson, and Arnold.

As of April 2024, we have mailed 135,644 books to children in Union City, 13,998 books to children living outside of the city limits and Rives children have received 9,019 books.

Rotary Travel Program

Through our Rotary Travel program, the Union City Rotary Club provides two all-expense-paid opportunities for students to broaden their horizons: a trip to Washington, D.C., and a trip to Europe. Beginning in 2024, in partnership with Bethel University’s Dual Enrollment program, students traveling to Washington, D.C. and Europe can earn 3 hours of transferable college credit.

For Washington, D.C., students fly to the nation’s capital and spend six days exploring historic sites and museums. The itinerary is planned by the students and chaperones, and income is not a factor in applying; because we want this opportunity to be within reach for any student who’s ready to learn, grow, and represent our community well.

Rotary Club Scholarships

The Union City Rotary Club Scholarship Program began in 1982 with a $10,000 memorial trust created in honor of charter member and past district governor Gus White, made possible by an initial $1,000 gift from Rotarian Hardy Graham. Since then, the program has grown steadily, awarding more than $7.97 million in scholarships, supported by annual giving, memorial and honorary gifts that generate interest for future awards, and provisions left through wills.

A major milestone came in May 2002 with a $3.5 million estate gift (the Verhine Fund), with income awarded on a need basis to eligible Union City High School graduates after completing one full year of college. The program is administered by a dedicated volunteer committee, with funds tracked and disbursed by Alexander, Thompson & Arnold, and scholarship checks issued each semester jointly to the student and their college.

The Promethean Foundation

The Promethean Foundation is one of the Union City Rotary Club’s cornerstone service projects, created in 2004 through the generosity of the Robert E. and Jenny D. Kirkland Foundation. Rotary provides leadership and oversight by appointing a Promethean Board of Directors to guide the mission: helping “at risk” children from birth to age five reach their learning potential.

Through our Pro-Kids program, we provide scholarships that cover the full cost of attending high-quality childcare centers in Obion County, while also strengthening participating centers through an academic curriculum (seven early-learning domains) and a character curriculum built around six core virtues—caring, honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility, and self-discipline. Scholarship recipients are chosen through an application and home-visit process, followed by a confidential board vote, and children and centers are monitored regularly through ongoing classroom observations and progress evaluations to support long-term success.

The Union City Rotary Relays

Join us for the Union City Rotary Relays on Friday, April 26, 2024; an exciting evening of competition and community spirit in Union City. Field events begin around 4:30 p.m., with running events starting around 5:30 p.m. The meet features electronic timing for certified results, plus team trophies for 1st and 2nd place in both the boys and girls divisions and individual medals for 1st through 3rd. Hosted by the Union City Rotary Club as a major local service project, the Rotary Relays is a fun, family-friendly tradition that brings athletes, schools, and neighbors together.