Dear Rotarians,
We’re writing to address recent media coverage that has misrepresented an unfortunate legal matter. We encourage you to discuss the following information with members of your club who may have questions or concerns.
At the same time, we are actively engaging with Canadian media to clarify these misunderstandings. If a member of the media contacts you regarding this matter, please refer them to Rotary International’s Media Relations Lead Michael VanDam at Michael.VanDam@rotary.org, so we can ensure clear and consistent communication......
First and foremost, let us offer some key facts to clarify some misleading headlines.
This is a family dispute over a will that involves Mary McEachern, the widow of Steve McEachern, longtime Rotary member in Edmonton, Alberta. Ms. McEachern’s legal team initiated legal proceedings against her husband’s estate, which happened to include gifts to The Rotary Foundation Canada.
Steve served Rotary faithfully for 45 years. A lifelong supporter of The Rotary Foundation and member of the Arch Klumph Society, he was passionate about Rotary’s mission and proud of its strong financial stewardship. In his will, he generously designated a portion of his estate to The Rotary Foundation Canada to fund humanitarian efforts. However, Rotary was not informed of Steve’s planned gift until 2022, 18 months after his passing.
At no point did Rotary instigate legal proceedings against Ms. McEachern. Mary is part of our Rotary family. Since first being made aware of this situation we have worked actively to seek a solution that honors Steve’s original intent.
The false portrayal of this matter, the result of a media campaign orchestrated by the Adams Agency, a public relations firm, seeks to manipulate public perception and sway the outcome of this case.
Efforts to Resolve the Matter
Rotary has made repeated efforts to collaborate with Ms. McEachern’s legal teams to gain basic information about the estate. The process has been complicated by multiple changes in her legal team and despite our repeated outreach, we still don’t have the necessary information regarding the estate’s complicated assets, size, or its financial implications.
The Rotary Foundation Canada remains committed to respecting Steve’s memory and his final estate plans. We share Ms. McEachern’s wish to see this matter resolved fairly and swiftly and are working closely with her legal representatives to that end. Additionally, we are collaborating with Canadian Rotary members to counter misinformation that has been shared in the media, so the public is better informed of Rotary’s actions.
Rotary is a family, and Steve’s fellow Rotarians loved and respected him deeply. The Rotary Foundation sent condolences to his family before we were aware of his planned gift. This situation is unfortunate because it overshadows Steve’s extraordinary generosity and the legacy he intended to leave with Rotary.
What does The Rotary Foundation Canada do?
As you know, the Rotary Foundation Canada, as an associate foundation of The Rotary Foundation, plays a vital role in supporting community projects led by Canadian Rotary clubs. Contributions support a range of humanitarian needs, from disease prevention to environmental initiatives.
Projects such as Rotary Employment Partnership, a collaboration among Rotary, Inclusion Alberta, and Alberta Human Services, have been improving the lives of Canadians for decades. The project connects individuals with developmental disabilities with meaningful work, and it has created more than 850 jobs since it began over 20 years ago, with about 600 of those employees still working today.
Thanks in no small part to the unwavering support of Canadian Rotarians, The Rotary Foundation and its associate foundations have been recognized as one of the best managed global charitable organizations, with 16 consecutive four-star ratings from the US-based Charity Navigator.
Thank you for your commitment to Rotary and to our shared mission of service, integrity, and the advancement of global understanding and peace.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Jones, Trustee, The Rotary Foundation
Chris Etienne, Director, Rotary International