Members of the Rotary Club of Fresno will celebrate their 5,000th meeting tonight. Rotary Club of Fresno photo

The Rotary Club of Fresno is celebrating a monumental milestone Thursday night, hosting its 5,000th meeting at The Grand 1401 in Downtown Fresno.

Chartered March 1, 1916, the Rotary Club of Fresno is one of the largest Rotary clubs in the world.

The Rotary Club of Fresno unites business professionals to take action and create lasting positive transformation in themselves, the community and across the world, according to a news release. 

In 1987, the Rotary Club of Fresno was one of the first clubs to welcome women into Rotary, having admitted three women initially, Sharon Levy, Barbara Moen and Diane Milutinovich.  The first woman to serve as president was Zetta Hadden in 2000-2001.  Today, the Rotary Club of Fresno prides itself with 36% of the club membership being women. 

“Having a diverse and inclusive Rotary Club of Fresno means we value and welcome individuals of all ages, cultures, ethnicities, and races to our Club,” according to the release. “We encourage younger people, women, and minorities who support Rotary’s values, ideals, and mission to join our members in service to our community, and strive to give all members equal opportunities to serve as leaders of our Club.”

Since the Club’s inception, the Rotary Club of Fresno and the Rotary Club of Fresno Foundation have contributed millions of dollars locally to community organizations such as Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Clubs, Rotary Amphitheater, Rotary Storyland and Playland and more. 

The Rotary Club of Fresno has contributed over $1.5 million to Rotary International for causes such as ending polio, promoting peace, fighting disease and providing clean water, according to the release.