Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary

Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Service Club

Meet Jackie Dale, a dedicated Rotarian whose commitment to service and community has helped strengthen Rotary's presence...
06/06/2026

Meet Jackie Dale, a dedicated Rotarian whose commitment to service and community has helped strengthen Rotary's presence in the Grosse Pointe area.

Born in Ohio, Jackie began her professional career in education before transitioning into legacy planning, where she now helps individuals and families thoughtfully prepare for the future. She is the proud mother of three children: Pat, JP, and Anna.

Jackie's connection to Rotary became especially meaningful through her family's involvement in the organization's youth programs. Her son, JP, was the first child from the club to apply for a Rotary Youth Exchange scholarship, helping pave the way for future participants. Years later, in 2017, her daughter Anna also applied for an exchange scholarship, further deepening the family's connection to Rotary's mission of international understanding and cultural exchange.

After becoming involved with Rotary, Jackie was encouraged by fellow members to continue attending meetings and building relationships within the organization. She quickly discovered a welcoming community united by a shared desire to serve others. Jackie often notes that the two Grosse Pointe Rotary clubs share the same spirit of service, with the primary differences being when and where they meet.

Thank you, Jackie, for your dedication to Rotary and your commitment to serving others. Your enthusiasm and support help strengthen our club and the community we serve.

Rotary is proud to support these outstanding graduates as they take the next step in their educational journeys through ...
05/26/2026

Rotary is proud to support these outstanding graduates as they take the next step in their educational journeys through scholarship opportunities. Each of these students has demonstrated leadership, academic excellence, and a strong commitment to serving their school and community. We are honored to invest in their futures and look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the years ahead.

Meet Joel Manardo, a Charter Member and dedicated Club Secretary for the past eight consecutive years. Joel and his wife...
05/18/2026

Meet Joel Manardo, a Charter Member and dedicated Club Secretary for the past eight consecutive years. Joel and his wife, Karen, have been married for 38 years and are proud parents to their adult children, Matt and Laura. Outside of Rotary, Joel is a member of the Players Theatrical Club and a passionate enthusiast of 1970s and 1980s German and British cars.

Joel’s strong work ethic began early. At just 15 years old, he started as a bus boy at the Pancake House, eventually working his way up to evening manager by the time he graduated. To this day, he still puts those skills to good use by making fancy pancakes for his family.

Professionally, Joel built his career in sales with Carroll Products, a flexible packaging manufacturer in Sterling Heights founded in the 1970s. Over the years, the company evolved from primarily automotive packaging to specializing in food and medical packaging during the 1990s. Joel often explains that packaging serves three important roles: protecting the product, preserving the product, and helping sell the product. His work involves collaborating closely with food brand owners, graphic artists, and manufacturers to create effective packaging solutions.

Joel is also passionate about sustainability within the flexible packaging industry. His company continually looks for ways to improve environmental impact, including testing biodegradable films designed to break down within months instead of lasting more than 150 years. While FDA regulations currently prevent the use of recycled content in certain food-contact films, the company still internally recycles an impressive 70,000 to 80,000 pounds of scrap plastic each year.

Thank you, Joel, for your years of leadership, service, and dedication both professionally and within Rotary!

05/10/2026

To all the women who have played a significant role in our lives and contributed to our personal growth and development, we extend our warmest wishes on Mother's Day.

Meet Valerie Moran, a lifelong educator, community leader, and dedicated volunteer whose experiences have taken her from...
05/09/2026

Meet Valerie Moran, a lifelong educator, community leader, and dedicated volunteer whose experiences have taken her from local classrooms to extraordinary moments on the world stage. Valerie has met two U.S. Presidents, Lyndon Baines Johnson and George H. W. Bush, as well as First Lady Laura Bush. She even danced with the King of Malaysia during his 70th birthday celebration.

A graduate of Michigan State University with degrees in Home Economics and Business & Marketing, Valerie later earned her master’s degree in vocational education and business technology from Wayne State University. Her career in education included teaching at both the middle and high school levels before moving on to teach at Macomb Community College and Wayne State University.

Valerie’s passion for Home Economics goes far beyond cooking and sewing. She emphasizes that the field also encompasses human development, child development, personal and family finances, consumer issues, housing and interior design, nutrition and food preparation, as well as textiles and apparel.

Her talents also extended into the culinary world, where she appeared as a guest chef on 12 cooking shows and helped write a cookbook for St. John Hospital.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Valerie has devoted decades of service to her communities. She served as a City Councilwoman for Grosse Pointe Park for 10 years and as President of the Seven Isles Homeowners Association in Fort Lauderdale for six years. Today, she continues volunteering with organizations including the Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club, the Grosse Pointe War Memorial, Junior League of Detroit, The Helm, Beaumont Hospital Assistance League, Grosse Pointe Friends and Neighbors Club, and Grosse Pointe Memorial Church.

Thank you, Valerie, for your incredible dedication to education, leadership, and community service!

For more than two decades, Kathy Lightbody has helped shape EyesOn Design into one of the region’s most celebrated autom...
04/29/2026

For more than two decades, Kathy Lightbody has helped shape EyesOn Design into one of the region’s most celebrated automotive events. As General Chairman and Media Relations leader, she shared the passion, planning, and people power behind the annual show, now in its 39th year.

Kathy’s own journey is rooted in hard work and leadership, from growing up in Harper Woods as the tenth of ten children, to working in her family business, to a 21-year career at Crain Communications where she finished as Director of Marketing. She also continues to serve her community through Rotary leadership.

She highlighted what makes EyesOn Design so special: expert judging across vehicle classes, opportunities for junior judges from high school and college, and the perspective brought by blind judges, who often select the same winning vehicles as other judges. With 300 volunteers, dedicated sponsors, and an awards ceremony that caps off the experience, the event is a true community effort built on excellence and inclusion.

EyesOn Design Car Show

The Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club sponsored a Community meal at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Sunday 4/12/26. Sinc...
04/20/2026

The Grosse Pointe Sunrise Rotary Club sponsored a Community meal at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Sunday 4/12/26. Since 2013 the Club has sponsored 3-4 community meals at the Church every year. All are welcome at the meals, including, parishioners, community members and un-housed. Club members acquire, cook and serve the food for 70-100 attendees. Community meals are an integral part of the church activities and are a rewarding service opportunity.

We were honored to hear from Gina Gabel, Co-founder and President of Thrive, whose mission is bringing daily school meal...
04/14/2026

We were honored to hear from Gina Gabel, Co-founder and President of Thrive, whose mission is bringing daily school meals to children in Bangladesh and the Philippines. What began with a simple act of kindness, delivering bananas to hungry students, grew into a life-changing program that has now provided more than 5 million school meals since 2012.

Today, 3,800 children are fed daily across 17 schools, creating better opportunities for students to learn, grow, and thrive. Gina also shared powerful realities about global hunger, including the urgent need for nutrition support in the Philippines.

We were especially proud to hear from local student presenters who helped shine a light on these important issues and the difference young people can make through service and awareness.

In 2026, $3,200 has already been raised toward future goals of providing 10,000 school meals by 2028 and 30,000 by 2030. Together, small actions can create lasting impact.

Thrive

Thank you, Rosemary O’Connor and Raqiyah Morrow, for speaking at this past Tuesday’s meeting!Rosemary started with Racqu...
03/25/2026

Thank you, Rosemary O’Connor and Raqiyah Morrow, for speaking at this past Tuesday’s meeting!

Rosemary started with Racquet Up as a squash coach and now leads the program, helping Detroit youth reach their full potential. Raqiyah, who joined Racquet Up in 5th grade, is now an Academic Coordinator and a great example of the program’s lasting impact.

Racquet Up serves 165 students from 5th through 12th grade, combining squash, academics, and community service. A typical day includes snacks, classroom learning, tutoring, wellness lessons, and time on the court, wrapping up with a closing circle to reflect and connect as a community.

What makes Racquet Up special is the long-term support. Staff are there for students during the years that matter most, pairing high expectations with consistent guidance and giving them experiences like travel and college visits to open doors they might not otherwise see.

The program started at the Northwest Activities Center and moved in 2022 to a 19,000 square foot facility in Northwest Detroit. Students who complete the program graduate high school at a 100 percent rate, with many going on to college and early careers, including nine collegiate squash players.

Raqiyah’s story shows the difference it can make. Racquet Up helped her with academics, college guidance, and resources throughout her journey. Now a Denison University graduate, she’s back mentoring the next generation of students.

With support from grants, donors, and corporate sponsors, Racquet Up continues to invest in Detroit youth, turning opportunity and mentorship into lasting impact. Racquet Up Detroit

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Grosse Pointe, MI

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