Olean Rotary Club

The Olean Rotary Club will host its 8th Annual Service Above Self Awards Dinner on Monday, May 11, 2026, recognizing three organizations whose long-standing service has made a lasting impact on the Olean community.

The event will be held at Woodside Tavern on the Range, 3319 W. River Road, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Cocktails will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the award presentation. The evening will feature a buffet dinner with a cash bar.

This year’s honorees are Harvest Field Ministries, the Olean Food Pantry, and The Warming House. Together, these organizations represent decades of service addressing food insecurity and other critical community needs.

Tickets for the Service Above Self Awards Dinner are $45 per person or $85 per couple. Tickets may be purchased at the door, by mail to P.O. Box 121, Olean, NY, or by reserving online at https://portal.clubrunner.ca/344/Events/serviceaboveselfdinner

Reservations are requested by May 1.

Past recipients of the Service Above Self Award include Meme Yanetsko; the Olean Area Service Club, including the Exchange Club, Lions Club, and Zonta; the Allegany American Legion Ritual Team; the Crandall family with Curt, Cathy, and Cory; Dan Evans; Linda O’Brien and Dan Spring; the Enchanted Mountain Garden Club of Allegany and the Olean Gardens and Beautification Committee; and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.

The Olean Rotary Club is a service organization of professionals dedicated to improving quality of life locally and internationally.

One of the most impactful ways we, as a Rotary Club, can reach and help others is by applying for a District Grant to support one of our community partners. This year, we had the opportunity to apply for a second Rotary District 7090 - Southern Ontario & Western New York district grant and were able to assist the only family shelter in Cattaraugus County.

Working with our community partners at Genesis House of Olean, the grant helped provide a new bathtub and shower in one of their family apartments, improving the living conditions for the families staying there.

Here are the before and after photos.

Last Monday, members of the Olean Rotary Club had a wonderful opportunity to visit the 3rd grade classes at Allegany Limestone Elementary School.

During the presentation, students were excited to discover all the interesting things inside their new dictionaries. As curious third graders do, they asked great questions and were eager to explore the words, maps, and facts found throughout their books.

As Rotarians continue their school visits, including a stop at Allegany-Limestone, the project will bring the total number of dictionaries distributed to approximately 4,575 over the past 16 years, helping young students build the reading, writing, and curiosity skills that will serve them for years to come.

The Dictionary Fund is sustained through donations from the Olean Rotary Club and community members, whose generosity is greatly appreciated. The club’s Community Improvement Fund, which includes the Dictionary Fund, also supports projects such as repairs and renovations to the Lincoln Park Gazebo and other community initiatives.

For more information or to make a donation, visit:
https://cattfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1196

Last Friday, members of the Olean Rotary Club had a wonderful opportunity to visit with the 3rd grade classes at Portville Central School District.

During the presentation, students were fascinated by all the interesting things they could discover in their new dictionaries. As curious third graders do, they asked some wonderful questions and were eager to explore the words, maps, and facts inside their books.

The Rotary Club was grateful for the opportunity to visit Portville and spend time with the students while continuing a program that has become a meaningful tradition in the community. For the past 16 years, the club has been providing dictionaries to local third graders as part of this literacy initiative.

As Rotarians continue their school visits, including a stop at Portville Central School District, the project will bring the total number of dictionaries distributed to approximately 4,575 over the past 16 years, helping young students build the reading, writing, and curiosity skills that will serve them for years to come.

The Dictionary Fund is sustained through donations from the Olean Rotary Club and community members, whose generosity is greatly appreciated. The club’s Community Improvement Fund, which includes the Dictionary Fund, also supports projects such as repairs and renovations to the Lincoln Park Gazebo and other community initiatives.

For more information or to make a donation, visit:
https://cattfoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1196

The CRCF scholarship application process closes tomorrow!

If you’re a student planning for college, trade school or continuing education, now is the time to submit your application. CRCF scholarships help support local students as they take the next step toward their goals - and we don’t want you to miss out.

Apply today at cattfoundation.org/apply-for-scholarships

Applying using the system’s universal application will allow students to quickly apply for any of the more than 100 scholarship opportunities available to them.

Applications must be complete and submitted by March 11.