On January 9, 2026 the Rotary Club of Guelph was delighted to present DONNA & STEVE DODGE with Honourary Paul Harris Fellowships. This award, named after the founder of Rotary, is one of the highest honours that Rotary International can bestow upon a person in recognition of their outstanding contributions that exemplify the highest ideals in Rotary in delivering “Service Above Self”.
Our club member Helmuth Slisarenko had nominated Donna and Steve for this award, and was proud to present it to them with these remarks:
Each year, the Rotary Club of Guelph recognizes one or more outstanding community volunteers with an Honourary Paul Harris Fellow. Those who are worthy of being bestowed recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow have made a significant and positive difference in the lives of other people locally, nationally or internationally as dedicated and committed volunteers, by exemplifying the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self”. These individuals' exemplary and exceptional volunteerism efforts are sustained over a significant period of time. Individuals are recognized who have contributed their time, energy and or financial resources towards the achievement of the primary areas of interest of Rotary International by:
Leading efforts to eliminate hunger, poverty and disease,
Promoting peace and understanding,
Undertaking efforts to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene,
Saving mothers and children,
Supporting Education,
Protecting the environment, and
Growing local economies.
Many notable figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows, including US President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. Astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and Polio Vaccine developer, Jonas Salk.
We are happy today to present an Honourary Paul Harris Fellow Award to Donna Dodge and Steven Dodge, a couple who have far exceeded the qualifications for this award.
Just a few examples of their devotion to the Guelph Community include:
Donna teaching sign language at a school for the deaf. (It was later revealed to me that it was the other way around - a bit of humour inserted by Jason Dodge initially.)
Opening and operating a pre-school for several years, discounting fees for families in need.
Steve coaching Guelph Minor Baseball for many years.
Together they helped create and organize two major fundraisers for Hospice Wellington (Home Runs for Hospice) – raising about $20,000 in donations.
They have participated in multiple fundraisers in support of Huntington’s Disease and Rebekka’s Ramble (a cancer fundraiser).
Being annual supporters of McMaster Sick Kids and the Guelph Children’s Wish Fund.
To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary they gave each of their kids and grandkids a $50 bill with instructions to find something or someone worthy or in need.
As members of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Steve spends countless hours working at the church on the property board and various other sub-committees.
Donna is part of group that promotes Women’s education.
At a family gathering in March of last year, arranged by the family to celebrate Steve’s birthday, the phone rang and the caller indicated that a family was having a crisis. Steven and Donna went out to help, leaving their own family to carry on the celebration without them. Whenever there was someone out there with a greater need than the two of them, they found a way to help. Such is their commitment and who they are.
I could go on but because our time is limited, I would like to conclude with the one thing that really stands out about this couple.
Their work in fostering children is unbelievable. They have fostered in excess of 70 children. Many were babies with special needs, some only for a necessary few days, and many in excess of two years.
Donna and Steve, it is with a great deal of humbleness that I ask you to please come forward to receive this Honourary Paul Harris Fellow Award.