Welcome to the Keene Elm City Rotary Club
Spreading joy and well-being through service, connection, and community.

Founded in 1990, the Keene Elm City Rotary Club is proud to be a member of Rotary International District 7870. With more than 60 dedicated members, we bring our skills, experience, and resources together to live out the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.”

Our Vision
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change in the Monadnock Region. We foster vibrant communities where children and families thrive, promoting health, well-being, and joy through dynamic service and strong relationships.

Since 2012, our signature fundraising event—the Clarence DeMar Marathon & Half Marathon—has supported our core mission of meeting the needs of local youth. Proceeds from the DeMar races directly benefit programs and initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles, education, and opportunity for children in our region.

As a hands-on club, service is at the heart of what we do. Our initiatives include:

• Allocations - Each year, the Elm City Rotary promotes the health and well-being of the children in Cheshire County through our relationship with the DeMar Marathon. Our club provides mini grants with a focus on aiding children in these areas. Please see the Allocations tab at the top of the page for guidelines and how to apply!

• Follow ME (Move Everyday) Sneaker Project – Inspiring Monadnock Region children to embrace daily movement by providing New Balance sneakers and promoting the Kids DeMar.

• Global Service – Supporting communities in El Salvador and Puerto Rico with our Monadnock Interact program and the Greater Keene Rotaract Club.

• Local Outreach – Volunteering for meal service and holiday basket deliveries with the Keene Community Kitchen.

• Environmental and Civic Engagement – Participating in roadside clean-up, maintaining a Keene Rail Trail pocket park, and supporting numerous area nonprofits and scholarships.

We are a club built on friendship, purpose, and action—where service is joyful, meetings are fun, and every member has a place to make a difference.