Kassaga James Arinaitwe is CEO and Co-founder of Teach For Unganda, a locally-led and globally informed leadership organization developing Uganda’s emerging leaders to address institutional and systemic challenges facing the education and social sectors in Uganda and across the continent. Prior to Teach For Uganda, Kassaga had gained eight years of international development experience working with The Carter Center in the United States, the non-profit organization founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter. He was also a 2012-13 Global Health Corps Fellow in New York City, and a School Partnerships Manager at Educate! 

In 2014, Kassaga was selected as one of twelve Acumen Global Fellows, selected from across six continents. As an Acumen Fund Global Fellow, he spent a year in Bangalore, India, with a work-readiness social enterprise providing on the job training and work-readiness skills to two million underserved youth. Kassaga is also the Co-founder and Chief Strategic Advisor (CSA) at Accompanied Health Initiative (ACHI) whose mission is to advance access to quality and affordable healthcare for Africa’s rural and low-income elderly without insurance or social security.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Mathematics and a Masters of Public Health and Policy from Florida State University, as well as a Masters in Sustainable Development and International Policy from the SIT Graduate Institute, in Washington DC. 
 

Every year the Tallahassee Sunrise Rotarians look forward to their annual holiday party, and on December 11th, they were definitely in for a treat. After a great inspiration by Gary Ware and Happy Dollars, their very own members, Dennis Fiorini, and Bill Jones gave us a riveting performance. Also, Sunrise’s special Holiday Angel, Rachel Borntreger, raised a substantial amount for our foundation and Sheri McInvale, President-Elect, introduced her board for next year. What a great way to bring in the holidays. Special thanks to Erin Sjostrom for putting it all together.

Wow! As always, Sunrise stepped up and ensured another successful Rotary Youth Camp dinner. Special thanks to our members, Fred Addonzio, Michelle Render, and all of Sunrise and friends for making this event happen.

Once again, Sunrise has done an excellent job welcoming our new District Governor. DG John A. Medina was extremely surprised and impressed. Below is an excerpt from his email that was sent last week.
 

“…Broadway has nothing on the Sunrise Club!!!!!!! You once again got a perfect score on the "Fun Meter", albeit at my expense. If I needed any additional humility to prepare me for my year as DG, Sunrise gave it to me.......and I THANK YOU!

Seriously, Dee Dee and I were most impressed with the various skits, hospitality, fellowship, and leadership of the Sunrise Club. You are destined to have another amazing year and I look forward to seeing you at future District and Club events.

Thank you (again) for a most memorable and joyous experience, today. I will proudly display my "Dream Catcher" over the mantle. 🙂

My best,

John A. Medina

DG 2018-2019”


Great job, Sunrise!!!

On Saturday, January 20th, the Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary Club celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees at Apalachee Regional Park. Our members were able to plant a tree for each member. This was a fun opportunity for our members to volunteer and to reconnect with nature. Great job Sunrise!

The new District Governor Lisa Meeks’ visitation. We had to welcome her in our traditional Sunrise style.

 

The first Ramp build for 2017 for Ability First and Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary was a great success. We had a fantastic turn out of Rotarians, family members, and friends, and were able to help build this massive ramp, deck and steps. The rain stayed away till about 3 so we could get most of it done. Thank you to Uptown Cafe and Chicken Salad Chick for our food for the day.

Each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay For Life movement, and Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary Club has an opportunity in being a part of this. The club has committed to creating a team and raising money for this great cause. Please visit the Team’s page and join and/or make a donation. Feel free to share the page.

Every year the Tallahassee Sunrise Rotarians look forward to their annual holiday party, and on December 8th they were definitely in for a treat. After a great inspiration by Gary Ware and Happy Dollars, their very own members, Allen Dewolf, Dennis Fiorini, and Bill Jones gave a riveting performance with their rendition of the dueling banjos and songs by Tom T. Hall. Sunrise special Holiday Angels, Fred Addonizio and Meg Moneyham, were back again and raised a substantial amount to benefit Big Bend Cares, an agency that provides education and comprehensive support to people infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. And last, but not least, Tyler Huston, President-Elect, introduced his board for next year. What a great way to bring in the holidays.

One of their partners and recipient of Tallahassee Sunrise’s Brewfest Fund is Ability 1st. Ability 1st, the Center for Independent Living of North Florida, is a community-based non-profit organization that provides services to persons with varying disabilities. Every year, Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary Club and friends participate in an annual ramp build for those that may have difficulties entering and exiting their homes. On October 3rd, Sunrise help to  build a ramp for retired fire fighter who hadn’t taken his wheelchair out of the house in seven years. It was truly a day of service and fun.

The Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary Club held its 9th Annual Brewfest Tallahassee on September 19, 2015. This festival of beer, food, and music was held at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum and it was just as great as previous ones. 

Sunrise Rotary was able to secured 30,000 square feet of festival space and had almost 30 breweries and 200+ different beers.  Craft beer was the focus, with many beer styles represented, including pale ales, IPAs, porters, stouts, wheats, ambers and lagers. Participants were able to sample various beers, buy cool Brewfest apparel, and indulge in some delicious eateries provided by Sonny’s BBQ.  

Brewfest is presented by Sunrise Rotary as its major fundraiser for the year, and as a result of this almost sold out event and the work of our dedicated Rotarians, the following entities were able to benefit from its proceeds:

2-1-1 Big Bend
Ability 1st
Alzheimer’s Project
American Red Cross Capital Area
Big Bend Homeless Coalition
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Big Bend
Brehon Institute for Family Services
Capital City Youth Services
Crime Stoppers
Domi Education
Early Learning Coalition
Honor Flight Tallahassee
Junior Achievement
Lee's Place
Lutheran Social Services of North FL
Parkinsons Outreach Association
Peace Jam
ReThink Energy Florida
Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship 
Sail Future
St Jude's Children's Research Hospital
Tallahassee Christian College & Training Center
Teen Challenge
Turn About, Inc.

Since its inception to today, Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary Club has donated $364,962.59 from the Brewfest proceeds.

Congrats to Sunrise Rotarian Micah Widen of Domi Ventures, LLC,  who was selected tonight for the Leader of the Year Award at the Leadership Tallahassee's Distinguished Leadership Awards.

This is awarded to an individual whose ideas, vision and hard work achieved significant, tangible benefits to the community within the past year.  Such work could include a focus on a particular initiative or project that improved the quality of life of Tallahasseeans.