Welcome to the Rotary E-Club of Sunshine, New York

We are one of the newest Clubs in District 7230 chartered on 22 November 2021
Rotarians have a vision:

“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”

Our Club Membership Director to be Keynote Speaker at District Conference

We announce with great pleasure that our Sunshine NY Rotary Club's Membership Director, Raaid Ahmad will be the featured Keynote Speaker at the 2025 District Conference. Raaid will be speaking on "How Rotary's Action Plan relates to the 4-way test,our guiding principles, and our vision and essence statements? This is a great achievement for our new Club.

The Conference will take place on Saturday, 5 April at Terrace-on-the-Park in Flushing, NY from 10 am to 4 pm. More information and registration details

Raaid is a third-generation Rotarian. He is a seasoned investor, data-driven strategist, and technology leader with over 20 years of experience building and scaling organizations. As a Managing Partner at 4DX Ventures, he invests in and supports early-stage technology companies across Africa, helping visionary entrepreneurs leverage innovation to drive transformational impact.

Prior to 4DX, Raaid led global growth and fintech initiatives at Facebook, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the platform’s user base from 1.5 billion to nearly 3 billion people. As the Head of Data Science for Growth and Facebook Financial (F2), he built and scaled high-impact teams that combined deep user analytics, AI, behavioral science, and rigorous experimentation to solve complex global challenges, from financial inclusion to combating fraud.

Before joining Facebook, he played a key role in Silicon Valley, scaling two Sequoia-backed startups that were later acquired, demonstrating his ability to help organizations navigate rapid growth and change. Earlier in his career, Raaid developed high-risk investment strategies at Bridgewater Associates, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, where he specialized in portfolio construction and global macroeconomic analysis.

Raaid’s career has been defined by his ability to ask bold questions, challenge assumptions, and apply data-driven insights to unlock new opportunities - a mindset that is highly relevant to Rotary’s mission of innovation and sustainable growth. With deep expertise in AI, consumer technology, and emerging markets, he brings a unique perspective on how organizations, including Rotary, can think differently about scale, impact, and long-term success.

Raaid holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar (Top 10%), and a B.S. with Honors from Johns Hopkins University in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics & Statistics. He is also a passionate advocate for financial literacy, children's education, and responsible technology use.

Raaid and his wife, Club President Jenny, are both Paul Harris Society members.

Rotary's Polio Chair Visits our District

World Polio Day was on October 24. Just a month earlier, at the Rotary Action Zone summit in Toronto, Rotary District 7230 was honored as the leading contributor to Rotary’s Polio Eradication Initiative for 2023-24, highlighting the district's unwavering commitment to ending polio worldwide. The observance of the Day in our District was marked by a visit from Mike McGovern, Chair of Rotary’s Polio Plus Committee, who spoke at the Bronxville Library during an event co-hosted by the Bronxville, Scarsdale, and Larchmont Clubs. Charter President of our Sunshine E-Club, AG Bina Ahmad, as well as members of the Heritage E-Club, the Yonkers-East Yonkers Club, the Port Chester-Rye Brook Club, and the E-Club of Vision were also in attendance, showing strong district solidarity.

“No child is safe until every child is vaccinated,” McGovern emphasized, as he outlined the urgent steps needed to achieve zero polio cases. District Rotary Foundation Chair PDG Eric Storberg introduced McGovern, who detailed the challenges in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where wild polio cases have risen, and the situation in Gaza, where a recent outbreak of vaccine-derived polio was successfully contained thanks in large part by Rotary’s dedicated volunteers. These brave individuals worked tirelessly, vaccinating children during limited two-hour windows of ceasefire.

McGovern also acknowledged the critical support from partners like the Gates Foundation and the U.S. government, expressing confidence in their continued backing. PDG Mary Shackleton, Major Gifts and Endowment Advisor for the Zone, underscored how contributions to the Rotary Foundation change lives and support global health initiatives.

DGE Garrett Capobianco shared an inspiring story from the recent Zone gathering in Toronto, where he met a classmate Governor from the Yukon. Despite being a polio survivor, the Governor’s unyielding spirit served as a beacon of hope and resilience.

DG Syed Alirahi thanked Mike McGovern and the contributors and pointed out that the Magic of Rotary continues to improve the lives of people around the world.

Rotary’s spirit of giving was on full display as Shamim Begum, President of the Rotary E-Club of Heritage, and her husband, DGN Maksud Chowdhury, presented a $1,000 check to McGovern as their club’s contribution. Serkan Ceylan, President of the Scarsdale Club, announced a $2,000 pledge from his club. Thanks to the matching support from the Gates Foundation, these donations will be tripled, resulting in a combined contribution of $9,000.

District 7230’s leadership and collective dedication continue to drive Rotary’s mission to eradicate polio, proving that with unity and determination, the goal of a polio-free world is within reach.

Ashfaue Salim honored with Paul Harris Fellow Award

Ashfaque Salim, International Director of our Rotary E-Club of Sunshine New York, has been awarded the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow Award by Club Advisor and Deputy Governor PDG Mahbub Ahmad. This accolade recognizes Ashfaque's exceptional dedication and impactful service, particularly for his significant contributions to relief efforts in response to the devastating floods in Chittagong, Feni, and surrounding areas of Bangladesh. His efforts were notably coordinated with the Rotaract Club of Islamabad (Chittagong) and local Rotary Clubs.

Ashfaque's commitment extends beyond international projects. He has been actively involved in local community service, including donating blood three times during Smart Rotaract Club's blood drives and organizing clothing drives for those in need. As International Director, Ashfaque spearheaded projects that provided essential books and supplies to street children in Bangladesh and facilitated the installation of a purified drinking water system for Chittagong University’s students and faculty.

The award was presented during the Blood Drive and CPR Training program hosted by the Rotary E-Club of Heritage NY. The event, attended by DG Syed Alirahi and DGN Maksud Chowdhury, was praised by Heritage President Shamim for its successful execution.

The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is awarded to individuals who contribute $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation, supporting global humanitarian efforts. Established in 1957, the honor aims to appreciate and encourage significant contributions to the Foundation.

Syed Mahfuz Spreads Joy in Tanzania: A Story of Global Philanthropy

Syed Mahfuz, a dedicated humanitarian based in Japan, recently embarked on a heartwarming journey to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with a mission to brighten the lives of children at the Atlas School. Representing the Rotary Club of Sunshine, Syed generously donated 400 handkerchiefs and a much-needed children’s school bus to the school.

The children of Atlas School welcomed Syed with overwhelming joy, expressing their gratitude by waving the handkerchiefs he provided and singing songs in his honor. This gesture of kindness left a lasting impression on both Syed and the entire community.

Originally from Bangladesh and a former Rotaractor, Syed now resides in Japan where he manages his own business alongside his family. As a charter member and International Service Director of the newly established Rotary Club of Sunshine, Syed continues to champion educational initiatives worldwide. He also serves as a Director at the Monu Mia & Sultana Orphanage in Sreepur, Bangladesh, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes.

Syed's philanthropic endeavors extend beyond Tanzania. In late 2021, he donated a minivan to the Hamilton Rotary Club in Bermuda, aiding an organization dedicated to supporting children affected by gun violence. In 2022, Syed furthered his support by donating three school buses to the same school in Tanzania, marking the Rotary Club of Sunshine's inaugural international project of the year.

Among their diverse international efforts, the Rotary Club of Sunshine has facilitated access to safe drinking water for rural communities in Bangladesh, provided educational resources such as children's books to underprivileged girls, and offered crucial infrastructure support to a girls' orphanage. Closer to home, the club has made significant contributions, including providing food support to immigrant families in the Bronx, donating laptops to autistic children, and collaborating with the sister Rotary Club of Hope, NY, to supply men’s clothing and hygiene items to "The Living Room," a local homeless shelter.

Syed Mahfuz's inspiring journey exemplifies the transformative impact of community service and international cooperation, showcasing how small gestures of kindness can make a world of difference. His dedication to improving lives across continents is a testament to the power of compassion and the enduring spirit of Rotary's mission.

Area Governor Hosts Round Up Meeting Celebrating Club Excellence and Growth

In a spirited gathering on Saturday, May 18th, Area Governor Bina Ahmad of Area 5 orchestrated a Round Up meeting, heralding the achievements of several new Clubs within the district. The event, held in the spirit of camaraderie, marked a confluence of learning, conviviality, and recognition, as District leaders joined the festivities.

Among the highlights of the evening were the prestigious Club Excellence awards bestowed upon Blooming Rose, Heritage, and Promise Clubs, with special commendation granted to Hope Club for its exceptional membership growth. Area Governor Bina Ahmad underscored the significance of the accolades, noting that they not only coincided with Rotary Day of Service but also symbolized a year-round commitment to community betterment by the recipient Clubs.

Addressing the gathering, incoming District Membership Chair PDG Mahbub Ahmad shed light on the burgeoning growth of new Clubs within the district, particularly within the South Asian community, which now constitutes nearly 15% of District 7230. He lauded the district's remarkable feat of establishing 10 new Clubs over the past six years, a milestone unmatched by any other district in North America.

DGND Maksud Chowdhury provided a brief historical overview, reminiscing about the formation of the Heritage E-Club in 2018 as a pioneering venture, marking the dawn of a new era for the district. Expressing optimism for his upcoming tenure as Governor, he appealed for collective cooperation and support from all stakeholders.

The evening witnessed poignant reflections from Club leaders, including Heritage Club President-Elect Shamim Begum, Promise Club Charter President Makhfia Zaman, Hope Club Charter President Rownak Ahmed, and Blooming Rose Club Charter President Nasrin Khan, who shared insights into the challenges and triumphs of their respective leadership roles.

Offering guidance and wisdom, Club Adviser Shahnewaz Rahim underscored the importance of fostering member engagement across all facets of club activities. Rotarians Nazmul Khan and Muhammad Zaman from Heritage Club imparted invaluable advice to the new Presidents, emphasizing the virtues of unity, collaboration, and collective project initiatives.

As the evening concluded, a sense of camaraderie and determination pervaded the gathering, setting the stage for continued collaboration and service-oriented endeavors within the district's vibrant Rotary community.