Making Connections » Capital Rotary Club

David Boucher Circles the Globe for Charity

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Apr 012016

Capital Rotary Club president David Boucher did not think of himself as a long-distance runner when he took up jogging 25 years ago – but now he has circled the globe by completing 24,902 miles (the circumference of the earth) on daily three-mile stints downtown.

It’s fitting that Boucher celebrated his last ‘round the world lap in March during the Rotary District 7770 conference at the Columbia Convention Center. Not only did he run the distance, but he also celebrated the last 900 miles by raising money for Rotary’s CART Fund for Alzheimer’s research. Using his Facebook page and club announcements, Boucher solicited sponsors at a penny-per-mile for the 900 mile finish.

He’s also collected change off the streets while jogging for the past year-and-half in Columbia – a total of $68.86 in coins of various denominations. This money, too, was donated to CART, and Boucher invited Capital Rotarians to match it by contributing $68.86 on their own.

The overall donation goal was $10,000. As of late March, Boucher’s efforts had brought in more than $7,000 with additional checks to come. The CART Fund – Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust – was started by a Rotarian in Sumter County in 1999 and has been adopted by many clubs since that time.

One-hundred percent of the money collected is used as seed money for cutting edge research to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. CART has provided over $5 million in grants since its founding.

District Honors for Capital Rotary

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Mar 312016

Capital Rotary was honored twice at the recent 2016 conference for Rotary District 7770. The district includes 80 clubs and about 5,000 Rotarians in 25 eastern counties of the state. Capital Rotary was named first runner-up for Club of the Year in the “medium sized” category, based on a listing of programs and accomplishments.

A past president of the club – Ione Cockrell – was presented a plaque by District Governor Rod Funderburk to recognize her selection as 2015-2016 District Rotarian of the Year. This award is given to one individual each year who has demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service and personal volunteer efforts. Cockrell was cited for playing a key role in relief efforts after many parts of District 7770 suffered significant devastation from rainfall and floods in October 2015.

Cockrell, a financial planner, joined Capital Rotary in 1993 and was its 2000-2001 president. She has been a significant donor to the Rotary Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation that supports humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange programs worldwide.

Real Estate Professional, Dentist Join Capital Rotary

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Nov 182015

Tennent Manning (left) and Dr. Edgar Peacock (center) are welcomed to Capital Rotary membership by David Boucher, president of the Columbia-area club. Manning, a Columbia native, is an associate at Newmark Grubb Wilson Kibler, with professional interests including commercial real estate land acquisition and development, tenant representation, healthcare, retail, land and lender-owned properties. He previously worked in farming, banking and lumber and plywood sales. His memberships include the state’s Real Estate Commission, the Delta Waterfowl Foundation and the Palmetto Club. Peacock, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon practicing in Columbia since 1974, is an Aiken native. He has degrees from the University of South Carolina and from Emory University’s School of Dentistry. An Air Force veteran, Peacock met his wife, Jennifer, while stationed in England. The couple has two children and seven grandchildren.

Upstate, Midlands Rotarians Contribute to Flood Recovery

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Nov 102015

Members of the Rotary Club of Spartanburg and Columbia’s Capital Rotary Club joined forces to contribute $5,000 toward relief efforts after record rainfall amounts caused catastrophic flooding in the Palmetto State in October. The funds resulted from Spartanburg’s initial gift of $2,500, which was matched dollar for dollar by the Capital Club. The total donation was split between the Columbia chapter of the American Red Cross and Harvest Hope Food Bank – two organizations that have been active in disaster recovery efforts. Capital Rotary president David Boucher made check presentations to Denise Holland, Harvest Hope director, and to Red Cross director Rebecca Jordan on behalf of both the Upstate and Midlands clubs. Support for emergency agencies following natural disasters is common practice for Rotarians worldwide.

Community Relations Exec Welcomed to Capital Rotary

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Nov 092015

Capital Rotary president David Boucher welcomes the club’s newest 2015 member – Allison Atkins, community relations and development director for the Lexington/Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council. A native of Swansea, Atkins worked for the University of South Carolina’s Department of Student Life before joining LRADAC. She’s a summa cum laude Clemson graduate, earned a master’s degree at USC and is immediate past chair of Leadership Lexington County. Atkins also serves as Midlands regional director and board member for the SC Public Relations Society of America.

Two Capital Rotarians Recognized for Paul Harris Giving

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Oct 222015

Two Capital Rotarians Recognized for Paul Harris Giving Capital Rotary president David Boucher (left) and immediate past president Mark Boksech (rear) honor club members Tony Thompson (right) and Ann Elliott for donations to The Rotary Foundation, the international service club’s charitable corporation that funds programs for world understanding and peace. Elliott was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow plus-two, representing an initial $1,000 donation, plus two additional gifts of $1,000, while Thompson is a Paul Harris Fellow plus-one, ($1,000 with an additional gift in the same amount). Bokesch is the club’s current chairman for Foundation giving.

Columbia Capital Rotary Distributes 860 Dictionaries

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Oct 012015

Capital Rotary Club members Rowland Alston (standing) and Jenks Mikell (seated at right) deliver student dictionaries to Arden Elementary in Richland School District One as part of the club’s yearly participation in The Dictionary Project, begun by a non-profit organization in Charleston in 1995 to help youngsters become good writers, active readers, creative thinkers and resourceful learners.

Capital Rotary is giving more than 860 dictionaries to third-graders for the current school year. In the past 11 years, the club has distributed personal dictionaries to some 11,300 students in the Columbia area.

Columbia Rotarian running for Alzheimer’s research

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Sep 012015

wistv.com – Columbia, South Carolina

David Boucher gave running a try nearly 25 years ago and he never stopped moving. Every morning he hits the pavement, running through downtown Columbia for a three-mile jog.

After a little calculation, Boucher realized he’ll soon total enough miles to have run a trip around the world.

“When one looks and thinks, ‘Gosh. I’m closing in on 24,000 – 25,000 miles over a 25-year history,’ it is surprising,” said Boucher.

While the distance was never a goal, Boucher turned to Rotary Club where he serves as president to celebrate the last 902 miles with a good deed.

“I’m going to run this anyway unless I have health problems or blow a knee out or something. How can I serve human kind at the same time?,” said Boucher.

He wrote on his Facebook page, “I am looking for sponsors who are willing to contribute just a penny per mile……up to the next 902 miles that I’m able to run. Why 902 miles? Because with another 901.55 miles in the rear view mirror, I would have run the circumference of the earth over a 25-year period (24,901.55 miles). Any money that I collect will be delivered to the CART Fund.”

Columbia’s Rotary Club, along with others across the state and those in four other states place blue buckets out at meetings, collecting pocket change for an Alzheimer’s research fund started by a Rotarian in Sumter County in 1995. During that time, CART, or Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust, has provided more than $5 million in research grants.

One-hundred percent of the money collected is used as seed money for cutting edge research, aiming to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease. Right now, it’s the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, and today it affects over 5.1 million Americans. So it’s a big number,” said Boucher.

He said he’s been overwhelmed with the number of people who stepped up to sponsor the cause.

“If we can do something to help human kind, that would be a good thing,” said Boucher.

So far, Boucher has raised more than $2,500. With 600 miles left to run, he’s set his fundraising goal at $10,000 to make a difference for families who know the effects of Alzheimer’s far too well.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Boucher can make checks payable to: The CART Fund, c/o Columbia Capital Rotary Club, PO Box 11946, Columbia, SC 29211.

Copyright 2015 WIS. All rights reserved. By Allie Spillyards – View the WIS Article here: http://www.wistv.com/story/29923198/columbia-rotarian-running-circumference-of-earth-to-raise-money-for-alzheimers-research

Columbia Fireflies CEO visits Capital Rotary

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Aug 122015

Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 12th was Mr. Jason Freier, Chairman & CEO of Hardball Capital, Inc. and Columbia Fireflies (www.ColumbiaFireflies.com). Under his leadership, Hardball has built the Fort Wayne TinCaps into one of the premier teams in Minor League Baseball and drastically improved the performance of both the Savannah Sand Gnats and the Salem Avalanche. Hardball has set all-time attendance records with every team it has owned and operated.

Hardball recently led the acquisition of the Chattanooga Lookouts and is currently constructing a new, downtown, multi-use venue in partnership with the Famously Hot City of Columbia, South Carolina. That venue, which will open in 2016, is part of a major downtown redevelopment project.

Jason is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law School, where he was elected to the Yale Law Journal. Jason is an attorney by training. Prior to founding Hardball, he specialized in complex business matters and sports law, appearing in courts at all levels, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Following law school, he worked with former Solicitor General and Harvard Law Professor Charles Fried and practiced with Williams & Connolly in Washington D.C. and Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore in Atlanta. Jason’s work has been featured in national publications and Congressional legislation.

Jason serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern, Midwest and South Atlantic Leagues. He is a member of the Advisory Boards of Thuzio and Palmer & Cay. Jason previously served on the Board of Directors of the Carolina League. Jason is an appointed member of the Fort Wayne Stadium Advisory Board and an officer of the Harvard Club of Georgia.

District Governor visits Capital Rotary

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Aug 052015

Our speaker on Wednesday morning, August 5^th was District Governor Rod Funderburk. Other than the incredibly busy schedule of being District 7770 Governor, Rod has served as Vice President at Resource Supply Management for the past 9+ years and prior to that he served as Global Energy Manager for Honeywell International.

Mr. Funderburk earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the prestigious University of South Carolina. Of course, he has been a long-term Rotarian as well.

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