Tuscaloosa Rotary Memorial Foundation

The Tuscaloosa Rotary Memorial Foundation (TRMF) was created by the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa in 1971, as a separate legal entity to provide a vehicle for tax-deductible contributions to club projects. From its first project in 1972-73 to the present, Rotary has raised and contributed more than $700,000. Community projects, their date, and the amount donated through the Foundation are as follows:

1973 -- $60,000 to renovate and equip a UA Campus building, establishing the Rotary International Student Center. Annual amounts of $4,000 (often more) have provided for maintenance and furniture replacement, and the total to RISC has exceeded $100,000.

1976 -- $100,000 seed money to initiate the open-heart surgery suite at DCH Regional Medical Center.

1979 -- $25,000 to establish and equip the Rotary Community Room at the Tuscaloosa Public Library.

1981 -- $25,000 for renovation of the Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa.

1981 – $26,000 for construction of the Dexter Hulsart Reception Center at the Boy Scouts Camp Horne.

1985 -- $25,000 for the planetarium display at Childrens Hands-On Museum.

1985 -- $25,000 for renovation and equipping of the activity room at FOCUS on Senior Citizens.

1991 -- $50,000 for the Book Fund Campaign at the Tuscaloosa Public Library.

1994 -- $42,150 for the new facilities capital funds project at the Salvation Army.

1994 -- $20,000 for restoration of the Jemison-Van deGraaff Mansion.

1998 -- $55,000 for assistance in renovation of the Tuscaloosa Public Library.

1998 -- $20,000 to the Tuscaloosa County Arts Council for the Bama Theatre Silver Screen renovation project.

2002 -- $25,000 for construction of the Girl Scouts Activity Center.

2002 -- $25,000 for renovation and repairs to the Rotary International Student Center.

2005 -- $25,000 for renovation and equipping of facilities for A Woman’s Place (substance-abuse residential treatment program)

2005 -- $30,000 for assistance in acquiring and developing property for Family Resource Center

2005 -- $10,000 for Strings in Schools seed money

2008 -- $10,000 for United Cerebral Palsy Butterfly Park

2010 -- $10,000 for Rotary Honor Flight (WW II Veterans to DC)

Initial incorporators of TRMF were then incumbent president Tom Shurett, president-elect Jim Shamblin, and past president Ed Christopher. Three members of the original board of directors who are still members of the club are Rotarians Bob Amason, Stan Bloom, and John Owens.

Current members of the TRMF Board are Rotarians Carolyn Dahl, Charles Durham, Bill Jessup, (term ending June 2011); Stan Bloom, Jim Drake, Kellee Reinhart (term ending June 2012); Alan Hartley, Rufus Lewis, John Snider (term ending June 2013). Incumbent club president, Jim Shamblin, is a one-year member of the board.