Paul Harris Fellow Recognition

Anyone who contributes – or in whose name is contributed – a gift of US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund may become a Paul Harris Fellow. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate, a Paul Harris Fellow pin, and a medallion. Donors are eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition when their cumulative giving reaches US$1,000.

Named for the lawyer who founded Rotary International in 1905 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, the Paul Harris Fellow recognition was established in 1957 to express the Foundation's appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation's only program, international scholarships. Since then, the Foundation has added a number of educational and humanitarian programs supported by generous contributions from around the world.

A total of 12 Paul Harris Fellows were recognized that first year. The first fellow, named for a contribution made in 1946, was Allison G. Brush, past R.I. director from Laurel, Mississippi, USA. Rufus F. Chapin, past R.I. treasurer from Chicago, Illinois, USA, was the second fellow, also based on a 1946 contribution. Mrs. Adan Vargas of Callao, Peru, became the first woman to receive the recognition, for a gift made in 1953.

The first contributors received a certificate in recognition of their gift. Today, a pin, medallion and certificate make up the recognition items.

To enable more persons to participate, the Paul Harris Sustaining Member was created in 1968. A Sustaining Member is an individual who contributes, or in whose name is contributed, a minimum of US$100, with the stated intention of becoming a Paul Harris Fellow by donating a total of US$1,000.  In November 1998, the Foundation’s Trustees clarified the definition of Sustaining Members, and they are now referred to as Rotary Foundation Sustaining Members (RFSM).  Beginning in 2004-05, Rotarians who give US$100 or more to the Annual Programs Fund will automatically become Rotary Foundation Sustaining Members, and are eligible to wear the RFSM sticker (provided by the club president), on their Rotary name badge.

Multiple Paul Harris Fellow recognition is also available to those individuals who are already Paul Harris Fellows and would like to receive recognition for additional contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Each additional US$1,000 contribution by a Paul Harris Fellow makes them eligible for a new Multiple Paul Harris Fellow pin with an additional stone, up to a maximum of five stones.

By far, the largest numbers of Paul Harris Fellows are Rotarians devoted to the purposes of The Rotary Foundation. Many more contributions are made in the names of Rotary family members. Rotary districts and clubs also use the recognition as a way of paying their respects to local, national or world leaders who have demonstrated commitment to the goals and purposes of the Foundation.

In 1984, the Foundation named its 100,000th Paul Harris Fellow. Only six years later, in June, 1990, the ranks of fellows tripled, to 300,000. The list of Paul Harris Fellows includes many well-known names, from Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk to the much-revered Mother Theresa, as well as heads of state, scientists, athletes and entertainers from every nation in which Rotary clubs exist.

Types of Contribution - Review

ROTARY FOUNDATION SUSTAINING MEMBER (RFSM) - minimum US$100 with the intent of becoming a Paul Harris Fellow.

PAUL HARRIS FELLOW (PHF) - minimum US$1,000.

MULTIPLE PAUL HARRIS FELLOW (MPHF) - for each additional US$1,000 contributed after an individual's PHF, a pin with one additional stone may be requested. Example: Paul Harris Fellow plus US$2,000 entitles the individual to a two-stone pin.

Paul Harris History

Paul P. Harris, a lawyer, was the founder of Rotary, the world's first and most international service club. 

Born in Racine Wisconsin, USA on 19 April 1968, Paul was the second of six children to George N. Harris and Cornelia Bryan Harris. At age 3 he moved to Wallingford, Vermont where he grew up in the care of his paternal grandparents. Married to Jean Thompson Harris (1881 - 1963), they had no children. He received an L.L.B. from the University of Iowa and received an honorary L.L.D. from the University of Vermont. 

Paul Harris worked as a newspaper reporter, a business teacher, stock company actor, cowboy, and traveled extensively in the U.S.A. and Europe selling marble and granite. In 1896, he went to Chicago to practice law. One evening Paul visited the suburban home of a professional friend. After dinner, as they strolled through the neighborhood, Paul's friend introduced him to various tradesmen in their stores. It was here Paul conceived the idea of a club that could recapture some of the friendly spirit among businessmen in small communities. 

On 23 February, 1905, Paul Harris formed the first club with three other businessmen: Silvester Schiele, a coal merchant; Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor. Paul Harris named the new club "Rotary" because members met in rotation at their various places of business. Club membership grew rapidly. Soon Paul became convinced that the Rotary club could be developed into an important service movement and strove to extend Rotary to other cities. 

Paul was also prominent in other civic and professional work. He served as the first chairman of the board of the national Easter Seal Society of Crippled Children and Adults in the U.S.A. and of the International Society for Crippled Children. He was a member of the board of managers of the Chicago Bar Association and its representative at the International Congress of Law at the Hague, and a committee member of the American Bar Association. He received the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts of America for distinguished service to youth, and was decorated by the governments of Brazil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France and Peru. 

Paul maintained his law office for most of his life. He spent much time traveling and was invited to speak to Rotarians at annual conventions, district and regional meetings, and other functions. When President emeritus Paul Harris passed away on 27 January, 1947, his dream had grown from an informal meeting of four men to some 6,000 clubs. In the past five decades, the organization has grown to more than 30,000 clubs with 1.2 million members brought together through Paul Harris' vision of service and fellowship.

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