PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Prior Lake, MN – On Wednesday, June 29, Prior Lake Rotarian Paul Hofslien was awarded The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service for 2021-2022 by Rotary International in recognition of significant personal service toward The Rotary Foundation, which is their charitable arm. He was 1 of only 60 Rotarians or Rotaractors worldwide to receive this award.
Hofslien, a member for 27 years, has had a positive impact on Prior Lake Rotary as The Rotary Foundation Team Lead starting in 2012, when he took over. The Club saw year-on-year gains in member giving - $131,739 in those first 5 years. And the Club was perennially in the top 3 for per capita giving in the District during that time, and also tops in giving to the PolioPlus initiative, which falls under The Rotary Foundation.
Hofslien took his passion, knowledge, and talent to the District as one of the first Fund Development Team Leads in the 2017-2018 Rotary year. As a Champion of TRF in the District, Hofslien presented to numerous Clubs to share his knowledge and passion elevating why The Rotary Foundation should be one of our charities of choice.
In 2020-2021, Hofslien was integral for starting the Foundation Coach program where other proponents from the District worked with a number of Clubs to raise awareness and funds for TRF. This work paid off with the highest ever giving to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Share fund in the current Rotary year at just over $482,000. In fact the highest levels of total giving to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund the last 5 Rotary years in the District have been tops. Not only has the giving for the Annual Fund gone up, but the District’s PolioPlus giving has also flourished the last five years. In fact, in that time, the District has again seen it’s 5 best years, including a record this year, currently at $140,244.
Said Hofslien, “Thanks for this honor. One individual does not achieve this prestigious award. It takes many individuals to make this happen. I’m truly proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization.” Hofslien is stepping down as a lead on the Fund Development team, and he leaves a lasting legacy because of all the funds he has helped raise in the past 11 years, with half of those funds coming back to our District to do good in the form of sustainable projects and programs. His legacy also lives on as he has helped to usher in a new group of Rotarians who now make The Rotary Foundation his or her charity of choice.