The annual award is presented to a non-Rotarian who
exemplifies Rotary’s principals.
Don Glasgow may be retired, but he isn’t finished serving his community of San Clemente yet. This Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year 2013” is still going strong, opening his heart and his resources to need where he sees it.
Recently he was awarded the Rotary Club’s District Non-Rotarian of the Year and his tireless work is an example for us all. The award is issued to the best qualified citizen in the Rotary District area, which encompasses most of Orange County.
San Clemente Sunrise Rotary Club members first met Don in 2012 when he was, single handedly, on a crusade to help wounded soldiers at Camp Pendleton acquire golf equipment, He has collected, cleaned, washed and distributed over 600 complete sets of golf clubs and over 35,000 golf balls. In recognition of his efforts, the Camp Pendleton Fifth Marine Battalion presented him with an American flag that had flown over the US base in Afghanistan in 2012.
But he wanted to do more. In 2010 Don started, by himself, collecting shoes for people in Mexico. His original goal of 200 – 300 pairs was surpassed. To date Don has collected and distributed over 10,000 pairs of shoes. Other projects for our Southern neighbors have included collecting gently-used musical instruments for the school children of Mexico.
He amassed and delivered over 200 used bicycles for the residents and children of El Nino, Mexico for those who had no mode of transportation. He co-founded the Kingdom Builders Ministries, a ministry in Mexico that builds houses and churches and feeds 1,000 children daily before they go to school.
And that still wasn’t enough for Don. He understood the need for a sensory park built specifically for disabled people, and became a cofounder of Courtney’s SandCastle Charitable Foundation. Serving as its President, he helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the unique playground, located in Vista Hermosa Park in San Clemente. Don has served as a board member for the “Fish for Life” campaign, a non-profit organization that gives special needs children a chance to go out in the ocean for a fishing experience they’ll never forget. They won’t forget Don, either.
Donia Moore
iwrite words
Freelance
