Paul P. Harris, Attorney
(1868 -1947)
Paul P. Harris was a Chicago attorney in 1905 when he had an idea for a club in which professionals could share "mutual cooperation and informal friendship such as all of had once known in our villages." On the evening of Thursday, 23 February 1905, Harris gathered three business acquaintances to form a group that became the Rotary Club of Chicago, initiating the world's first service organization. Harris became the first president of what would later become Rotary International, the association of Rotary clubs around the world with 1.2 million members united under the motto Service Above Self.
Becoming a Paul Harris Fellow
A Rotarian becomes a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) when you give $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. To recognize someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow, you can give that amount in their name.
Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
When a recognized PHF Rotarian gives additional gifts of $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant, they are recognized as a Multiple PHF. As such, their PHF pin is then adorned with either sapphires or rubies denoting which level they have achieved.
Paul Harris Society Member
When a PHF elects to intentionally contribute $1,000 or more annually to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant, they are considered a member of the Paul Harris Society.
​
