The Rotary Club of Coronado was commemorated as one of three volunteer honorees at this year’s Support the Enlisted Project’s (STEP) fall social.
STEP is a community-funded agency that serves young military and veteran families facing financial crises in an effort to combat food insecurity, homelessness and risk of suicide. Over the course of 12 years, they have impacted over 250,000 military lives with a 90% success rate by changing their financial behaviors, according to STEP.
By connecting military personnel with financial counselors, they work through obstacles by providing the necessary help – whether it be through therapy or financial support that allows them to restore or retain any basic necessities, such as paying off electric bills or overdue rent.
STEP’s services are free of cost to participating families, made possible through volunteer organizations like the Rotary Club of Coronado.
“Coronado Rotary has not only provided us with financial support but they also advocate for us, helping us find additional financial support to be able to manage more families,” said STEP CEO and Co-Founder Tony Teravainen. “They’re leaders in the community.”
$50,000 raised by Coronado Rotary
Through donations and fundraising events like their annual Low Tide Ride & Stride – the Rotary Club has been able to raise about $50,000 for STEP, over the course of about five years.
The cost to guide a military family through STEP’s financial program costs around $2,000, which equates to around 25 families funded through the Rotary Club’s efforts alone.
“I’ve always considered it our obligation to be of service to those who are in need,” said Coronado Rotary Club President Pat Starke. “I spent my time in the Army and I’m very familiar with what it’s like to be, for example, a lower-level enlisted person with a family and a child who makes nothing, unable to afford to feed their family or house them. It’s tragic but it’s a reality of life and it’s right up our alley to work with STEP on this.”
The Rotary Club has also partnered with STEP in the past for philanthropic projects surrounding the military community, such as when a Coronado-based sailor unexpectedly passed away in 2023 while attempting to combat a carjacking. The two organizations were able to raise over $20,000 for the sailor’s family in order to aid them through the aftermath, including assisting them in getting a new car, paying off bills and providing them with financial counseling.
Honored at Oct. 10 ceremony
The Coronado Rotary Club was honored alongside the San Diego Social Venture Partners and the Echelman family.
“When these awards are given out, it’s a consequence of the efforts of 250 Coronado rotarians and the work they’ve done,” said Starke. “You throw money at something, you throw effort at something, you think it makes a difference. But when an outside party says you guys have done a good job, it’s reaffirming that the efforts we’ve put forth are actually having a positive impact.”
The award was given to the Coronado Rotary Club at the Oct. 10 fall social.
