Sunrise Rotary Welcomes Third Family Member From Brazil

Leonardo with former exchange student, Katie Meehan and Natasha and Rodrigo Corrigan.

In August, The Lakewood Rocky River Sunrise Rotary welcomed its latest Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Leonardo Borges Jacinto from Canarana, Mato-Groiso, Brazil. He is one of three cousins from the same family who have been exchange students with the Lakewood Rocky Rive Rotary Clubs. Leonardo’s cousin, Felipe Jacinto Drummond, from Goiania- Golas, Brazil, was hosted by the Sunrise Club in 2007/2008. Another cousin, Ana Diaz, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, was hosted by the Monday lunch Club in 1998/1999. The three cousins came here as part of the Rotary Student Exchange Program of Rotary International which each year, provides over 8,000 students from about 80 countries, the opportunity to go to school, live in a home with a host family, and learn more about Rotary and other countries by attending Club meetings. They join with other exchange students in their school, and the area, to participate in local club service projects as well as their school. 

Lakewood High School provides the educational, social, and sports opportunities for the exchange students.  Leonardo has joined, and is practicing with the Rugby Club Team, which will begin its season next March.

Leonardo’s home city of Canarana is a small rural city of about 22,000. His father is rancher with about 1,500 head of cattle. His mother teaches swimming in a local club. He just celebrated his 18th birthday, and has completed high school in his home city. He has one younger brother and one younger sister. When he returns home next August, he will begin studying for the exam which if he passes will give him the opportunity to attend a university, where he would like to earn a degree in Agro Engineering. 

His first host family is the  Dave and Marjorie Corrigan family of Westlake. The Corrigan’s have two daughters and one son. Both of the girls have participated in Rotary Exchange. Christina went to Jaca, Spain 2012-2013 for her junior year, now she is a senior at Magnificat. Natasha went to Belgium in 2011-2012 after she graduated from Magnificat, now she is a sophomore in John Carroll. Rodrigo is planning to go to Germany next year. He is a sophomore at St Edward High School.

Most of the 1,200,000 Rotary members in over 200 countries around the world provide financial support of the Rotary International Foundation through programs like “Every Rotarian Every Year” with members committing to annual donations. Polio Eradication is one of the major projects of Rotary International. It began in 1985, and with the help the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation there are only two countries in the world with polio cases this year.

You can learn more about Rotary and its many community and international services programs by visiting one of the Lakewood Rocky River Club meetings. One club meets at noon on Mondays, and a second at 7:15am on Wednesdays. Both meet in the Umerley Hall of the Rocky River Civic Center behind Rocky River City Hall at Wagar Avenue and Hilliard Boulevard.

Larry Faulhaber is PR Committee Chair for Sunrise Lakewood Rocky River Rotary Club.