By Emily Zeigfinger
Members of the Rotary Club of Preston Hollow have been leaning into their motto of “Service Above Self” with projects ranging from cleanups and cooking to scholarships and camps.
Camp Scholarships Granted
In May, the club gave scholarships to two local high school students, Alexander Moreno and Heather Sandoval, to participate in Camp RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award.)
The camp, which takes place in Midlothian, gives rising high school seniors from District 5810, the North Texas district of 62 clubs, a chance to develop their leadership skills over one week. RYLA receives 800 to 1,000 applications per year and selects only 185 students for the program.
Camp RYLA leaders said they view the organization as a place where strong leaders are made, not born, and leadership principles are learned, not inherited. Through Camp RYLA, “Leaders of Tomorrow” have a forum for teamwork, communication, and consensus — building in an environment that challenges personal and team responsibilities.
Neighborhood Spotlight
Preston Hollow
Fire Station Breakfast
The Rotary Club has also been serving a little closer to their district at the Dallas Fire Station on Royal Lane.
“The Club members have been following the construction of the new fire station following its destruction in the 2019 tornado that swept across Preston Hollow. After years of planning, design, bidding, and construction, the men of Fire Station No. 41 are finally back in the neighborhood in a new, permanent structure,” said Rotary Club member Allen McReynolds.
The club provided breakfast items, including eggs, pancakes, and coffee, to the firefighters on Shift B, with breakfast soon to come for the other shifts.
“I can’t think of a more deserving group of hardworking men than the Dallas firemen who work around the clock to save lives and protect our community,” said club member Jahaziel Cantu. “A simple way of showing our appreciation and support is to bring a meal to share and thank each of them in person.”
Environmental Impact
The Rotary Club has also made a sizeable commitment to environmental impact.
“Our club adopted the Rotary International’s theme of being an environmental leader in the community. We do electronic recycling events and give away oak seedlings in return to help replace the trees that were lost when Preston Hollow was hit with the tornado in 2019,” said McReynolds.
At Bachman Lake, Preston Hollow Rotary sought out an environmental education center for Dallas ISD to manage and operate without having to pay the construction cost. The club donated $2 million to Rotary International to build the center.
“We’re trying to do something really substantial in the greater Preston Hollow because there are pockets of poverty all around us, and we have sort of an obligation to help,” said McReynolds.
They also partnered with the Friends of Bachman Lake to clean up Bachman’s parks and beautify the DART station near the lake. Also, because there is no bathroom on Bachman Trail, the club reached out to Texas Tech University, where its architecture students are working to build a compostable, one-stall bathroom this fall that will be placed at the trailhead on Cochran Chapel Road.
In the fall, McReynolds looks forward to hosting a “Men Who Cook” event (children and women are welcome) at the Marcus Recreation Center. The proceeds from the event will go to the Dallas Park and Recreation Department to help clear out the privet, an invasive plant, along the creek.
“Our club is trying to be a leader and help build this park up for everyone in Preston Hollow,” McReynolds said. “We’re trying to generate some momentum to get all of these beautiful things done for the community.”
