Rob was inspired to found AMF in 2004 by a previous charity effort, a three person fundraising swim for a 90%-burns victim, which ‘accidently’ developed into 150 swims in 75 countries involving 10,000 people and raised sufficient funds to secure the child, Terri’s, future. He scaled up this model, starting AMF with a worldwide swim which grew to involve 250,000 people in 130 countries. AMF has now raised more than US$835 million, funding 370 million anti-mosquito bed nets to protect 665 million people in 35 countries, mainly in Africa.
AMF uses technology, rigorous processes and clear accountability to ensure aid is delivered effectively. AMF is a team of 15 people who all work from home. In terms of impact, these nets can be expected to have prevented 300,000 deaths, averted 300 million cases of malaria and improve local economies by more than US$10 billion (12x the donation amount). When people are ill, they cannot farm, drive, teach – function, so the improvement in health leads to economic as well as humanitarian benefits.
For all of the last 18 years, and currently, AMF has been a top ranked charity of the US independent charity evaluator GiveWell and has held the same top-ranked position for the last 18 years at ranking organizations in the Australia (The Life You Can Save) and in the UK (Giving What We Can). No other organisation has been top ranked globally in this way.
Rob started his career in strategy consulting for the firm Monitor Company, based in their Milan office. After studying in the US, he returned to the UK as commercial director and equity partner of a proprietary trade show business. He moved to become Operations Director of one of the world’s largest financial publishers before being appointed divisional Managing Director of their global electronic businesses.
Rob studied Chemical Engineering at Cambridge University and has an MBA from Harvard. He is fluent in Italian and French. He loves all sport and used to be a half decent football player (so he says) once upon a time. He now runs, cycles, skis and mountain climbs and was pleased with a sub 4 hr marathon given his advanced age. Rob was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty The Queen in the 2021 New Year's Honours list for services to medicine and charity. He lives in London with his wife Catherine and their four children.
Grab a drink. Grab a cutting board. We’ve got vegetables to chop!
For Hunger Action Month, we’re turning Sip & Prep into one big prep kitchen for some of Kanbe’s nonprofit partners across Kansas City. They’ll tell us what would be most useful in their kitchens, and we’ll spend the evening sorting, washing, peeling, chopping, and packing fresh vegetables so they’re ready to turn into meals.
Come spend a couple of hours with good people, good music, and probably more onions than you planned on encountering on a weeknight. No kitchen skills required. We’ll have everything you need. You bring yourself and wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy.
Friday, September 25, 2026 06:00 PM US/Central Kanbe's Markets Warehouse 3529 Wyoming St Kansas City MO 64111
We have set aside 8 spots for volunteering. If you are interested, just contact Ed Gilmore (913-579-8299)or Marc Cantel (913-638-8047)
Kickoff Oktoberfest at KC Bier's new Lenexa location.
Bratzels, Bierricks, Wurst and other appetizers provided. Members are responsible for their beverage and any special food orders. We will be in the outdoor Biergarten unless weather moves us to the Bierhalle. KC Bier has supported our club with annual donations to the Crawfish Festival and other events. Please join your Rotary friends and support KC Bier in this new location they just opened in July.
Rotary Club volunteers are needed for pouring beer to raise money for our Crawfish Festival Beneficiaries.
Each person earns $15/hour(tax free due to donation). This amount will be donated directly to our charity. You can have friends and family work too.
Everyone gets a free T-shirt and a free ticket to give to a friend or use another day. The ticket will be sent via email in September.
You can sign up for more than one shift, as well as on both days.
Please sign up as soon as you can, so we can insure we fill all the shifts available. Saturday nights are the busiest and hardest to fill-please consider filling those shifts first!
Once you sign up, you will get a confirmation email. If you do not see it, please look for it in the junk folder and mark it safe. You will receive more information/instructions as the event approaches, and it will come through the Volunteer Local website.
You must enter the password below to access the sign-up schedule.
PASSWORD: bar2
Save the Date for Thursday, October 1st
For the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the Board of Growing Futures Early Education Center, and this year I’m honored to serve as Board President. Growing Futures supports children and families right here in Johnson County through high quality early childhood education and comprehensive family services.
One of my favorite examples of how community connections grow is fellow Rotarian Tom Cohen. I originally met Tom through Growing Futures and later encouraged him to consider joining the Overland Park Rotary Club. He did, and since then, he has become even more involved with Growing Futures! Tom and his wife, Lena Price, are now serving as two of our first Honorary Chairs for Harvesting Hope, committing their time and energy to raising money and awareness for the important work Growing Futures is doing in our local community.
I’d love to have my fellow Rotarians join us for Harvesting Hope on Thursday, October 1, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Strang Hall in Downtown Overland Park. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy an evening together while supporting local children and families.
Learn more, purchase tickets, or support the event here:
If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to give me a call at (785) 317-2261 or email me at marc@searcyfinancial.com.
Please buy a couple of squares in the Polio Plus "game day pool" for the game to be played between Kansas and Kansas State Universities on October 17, 2026. Winning squares will be based on the scores at the end of each of the first three quarters as well as the final score with $100 going to each of those four winners. The balance in the pool will go to POLIO PLUS.
Each square goes for $10. Buy a couple and give your cash or check (payable) to Bill Morton OR Venmo to him at 913.706.2582 or @William-Morton-78.
Thank you from Rotary International and OP Rotary!
Rob was inspired to found AMF in 2004 by a previous charity effort, a three person fundraising swim for a 90%-burns victim, which ‘accidently’ developed into 150 swims in 75 countries involving 10,000 people and raised sufficient funds to secure the child, Terri’s, future. He scaled up this model, starting AMF with a worldwide swim which grew to involve 250,000 people in 130 countries. AMF has now raised more than US$835 million, funding 370 million anti-mosquito bed nets to protect 665 million people in 35 countries, mainly in Africa.
2027 Beneficiary Applications OPEN
