Building Goodwill: Rotary Club of Newnan enters a new Century of Service

Young Americans are called out for their patriotism at the 2025 Fireworks Show.

Written by ROBIN STEWART

Photos Courtesy of ROTARY CLUB OF NEWNAN

It’s been said that all politics is local. The same could be said for philanthropy.

The Rotary Club of Newnan has been actively serving the Newnan/Coweta area for more than a century; last year, the nonprofit service organization celebrated its 100-year anniversary.

Living the “Service Above Self” motto, Rotarians can be described as humanitarians on a mission to better their immediate community. Much good comes from those weekly Wednesday lunch meetings at the Newnan Country Club where guest speakers are often featured.

The Newnan organization’s list of past presidents reads like a “Who’s Who” of the city’s history, with many of the surnames now familiar as names found on streets and buildings around town: Arnall, Mann, Farmer, Cole and Jones are just a few. Some present-day members are second, third and even fourth generation relations to the club’s charter members. That’s quite a legacy!

Nevertheless, this is not your grandfather’s club. Today’s Newnan Rotary includes men and women from all walks of life. State Representative Lynn Smith (District 70) enjoys the distinction of having been the first female member when she joined back in 1991.

Being open and welcoming to all is important to the organization, demystifying the misperception of exclusivity. Those interested in joining the Rotary Club of Newnan can reach out to a current member or contact the club via their website or social media to attend a meeting as a guest and learn more.

Rotarian at Work! It’s what they do, and what they’ve done, for more than a century! Wearing the shirt, George Siggins proves it’s more than a slogan.

Service traditions

Attorney Kimberly Bourroughs Debrow is the current president of Rotary Club of Newnan. Debrow cites the club’s longstanding service traditions of awarding scholarships to high school seniors and awarding community grants to local nonprofits among the biggest achievements over the last 100 years.

Chosen by school staff, graduating high school seniors are eligible for the scholarships.

“This past year, we extended the opportunity to all five high schools in the county,” Debrow notes. That’s Coweta County’s three public high schools – Newnan, East Coweta and Northgate – and two private schools, Heritage and Trinity.

Debrow observes that, beyond the obvious financial assistance, the honor and recognition is most prized by student recipients, as those who win exemplify the tenets of Rotary.

“In addition to doing service, we also help enable service through other organizations,” Debrow says. “Our grans program is a compounded way of how we really are here to serve our community.”

Awarded annually, these grants help other nonprofits carry out their missions. Local organizations seeking to apply for grants can find information and deadlines on the Newnan Rotary Club website at newnanrotary.org.

Debrow says the scholarships and grants continue “a legacy of service” for Newnan Rotary.

“More Music is proud to partner with the Rotary Club of Newnan,” says Director Chad Staples. “Because of their support, More Music was able to provide student scholarships that helped increase our Student Scholarship Program to 16 students.”

He credits Newnan Rotary as one reason More Music will “continue shaping students’ lives through the power of music.”

Hands-on helping

Beyond grants, Newnan Rotary Club assists local nonprofits in a hands-on way through various service projects. From providing shaded picnic table seating for the humane society’s staff and volunteers to partnering with Backpack Buddies to bag and deliver food to local children in need, Newnan Rotary Club is about service, fellowship and community.

It’s stated in their messaging: “Rotary is where neighbors become friends and friends become changemakers.”

Kevin Barbee led the group in its centennial year during which the club marked their anniversary with a formal gala celebration at the Newnan Centre and a visual retrospective of the club’s history. It was lovely, but Newnan Rotary Club is synonymous with something even a bit more… Explosive!

Easily, the Newnan Rotary Club’s most popular event is the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show at Newnan High School’s Drake Stadium.

“When people think about the Newnan Rotary Club, most probably think about fireworks because we’re the ones who have been sponsoring that for almost 40 years,” says Immediate Past President Clay Neely. “That is our primary service project.”

Debrow agrees, calling it an iconic event that the club is honored and proud to do.

Neely says it’s one of two signature events for the club. Their other major fundraiser is the annual Tour of Coweta bicycle ride traversing Western Coweta County. Rides range from 27 to 100 miles. Money raised from the ride funds Newnan Rotary Club scholarships.

In a time where people seem more divided than united, it’s noteworthy that the Rotary Club is both nonpartisan and nonsectarian yet governed by a set of ethics known as the Rotary Four-Way Test of things members think-say-do:

1. Is it the truth? 

2. Is it fair to all concerned? 

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

“Rotary is open, and it’s welcoming, and it’s deeply invested in our community’s future, Newnan’s future,” says Debrow. “We are a service club that’s been around for more than a hundred years, but more than that, we’re a family of friends and people who care about one another, who share a common interest in making sure our community is safe and strong.”

The Rotary Club of Newnan looks forward to its next 100 years of service and impact, according to Debrow.

Cheers to another century of service, Newnan Rotarians! NCM