Engaged. Dynamic. Focused. Fun
 
 
Welcome to Daybreak Rotary!
Ray Rinkol, Daybreak President
At Daybreak, we believe in doing good work and having a good time doing it. Our 7 a.m. Happy Hour meets at the Cedar Rapids Country Club on Fridays, and our club’s focus is helping kids in need in Cedar Rapids and around the world, literally.
 
Daybreakers volunteer at YouthPort, an organization in Cedar Rapids that is comprised of the Boys & Girls Clubs, Tanager Place, and Young Parents Network, by having dinner and playing games, playing in the gym, and reading with kids in the neighborhood. 
 
In addition to helping youth in Cedar Rapids, Daybreak changes the lives of young people around the world. Our Club has a nearly 20 year history of international youth exchange – hosting students from other countries and sponsoring Cedar Rapids area students to other parts of the globe. Our Club has also collaborated with several international partners to help build an Early Childhood Development Center in El Salvador. In fact, Daybreakers recently returned from another international service project in El Salvador in May of 2015.
 
While Daybreak prides itself on being actively engaged in the community, it is also a dynamic fundraiser for the very kids we spend time with. As of August 2015, we will have given nearly $500,000 to community organizations that help kids in need through our primary fundraiser, the Duck Race. The Duck Race allows us to focus our efforts on one fundraiser, which is meaningful and fun.
 
Finally, we have great socials. In August 2015, we caught a Kernels baseball game and in September we helped coordinate a golf outing for all the metro area Rotary clubs at The Cedar Rapids Country Club. Our plans also include a barn dance in the near future.
 
Rotary International’s official motto – “Service Above Self” – is alive and well at Daybreak Rotary. We look forward to welcoming you as a guest, visitor, or new member.
 
Ray Rinkol
President, 2015 – 2016