Big Bear, Ca, March 15, 2011, 3:25pm – When Big Bear High School student Sarah Ferraro was told she was going to get to go to Japan as part of the Rotary exchange program, she never thought she would be brought home early because of an earthquake. Sarah was flown home today and will be meeting her mother at the LAX Airport. According to Rotarian Mike Chilcoat, Sarah is fine and was in no danger. Sarah was doing an exchange with the Rotary Club of Ichihara which is just acrros the Toyko Wan on the penninsula oppossite Tokyo. The Rotary Club is bringing Sarah and all other exchange students in Japan home as they see it as the best interest of the students and of the hosting Rotarians in Japan. Rotary International has also set up a Japan Relief Fund and the local Rotary District has set up a specific fund for the Japanese Rotary District that did a group study exchange a few years back.
The monies will be escrowed within the District 5330 Foundation and will be tax deductible. Please make checks payable to Rotary District 5330 Foundation, with “Japan Disaster Relief” in the memo line and mail to:
Milt Levinson, PDG
Rotary District 5330
P.O.Box 1505
Palm Springs, CA. 92263