Supporting the Environment the Rotary Way
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DeAnna Persai, a passionate Rotarian and climate action advocate, showcases how Rotary clubs across California's District 5170 are addressing environmental challenges through diverse projects ranging from solar installations to plastic film recycling and tree planting. She emphasizes that connecting with people on environmental issues begins where they are—whether through gardening, personal experience, or concern for future generations—and that Rotary's collaborative model enables meaningful climate action across political and geographical divides.
Key takeaways
- Rotary International designated the environment as its seventh area of focus in 2020, with six key themes including biodiversity, climate action, circular economy, food systems, pollution, and sustainable living.
- District 5170 clubs implement tangible environmental projects like lithium-ion battery recycling events, native pollinator habitat restoration, solar panel installation for nonprofits, and distribution of reusable bags to replace single-use plastics.
- Engaging people on climate issues requires meeting them where they are—through personal interests like gardening, children's futures, or cost-of-living concerns—rather than relying solely on data and charts.
- The district launched a $5,000 annual grant program (recurring) to fund environmental initiatives, with tiered funding for individual clubs, multi-club partnerships, and newly established environmental committees.
- A second annual Climate Action Summit scheduled for January 10, 2026, brings together environmental organizations, younger generations, and Rotarians to share knowledge and collaborate on solutions.
About DeAnna PursaiDeAnna Persai has been a Rotarian since 2015, serving with both the San Jose Rotary Club and as an honorary member of the Saratoga Rotary Club in California's District 5170. She has been the district's climate action chair for three years and works professionally supporting adults with disabilities in higher education.
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Program: Supporting the Environment the Rotary Way
Speaker: DeAnna Pursai
We bring you a new program every week on innovation, entrepreneurship, and education and how they contribute to service to others.
This week we'll hear about a personal climate journey and its relationship to Rotary environmental projects locally and internationally. Protecting the environment was added as Rotary's 7th Area of Focus in 2020.
DeAnna Pursai is a proud dual Rotarian, member of the San Jose Rotary Club since 2015 and an honorary member of the Saratoga Rotary Club since 2022. She’s been a founding member of the Rotary Climate Action Committee of San Jose, and now serves as the District 5170 Climate Action Council Chair as well as the Vice Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group BigWest Chapter. She is a trained climate ambassador with Al Gore's Climate Reality Project, and she’s a member of Climate Citizens Lobby and Mothers Out Front. She's got a personal mission to talk about climate each day to anyone she can.
In her professional career, DeAnna Pursai holds a Master's in Education Policy Analysis in the School of Education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Purdue University. DeAnna was named a CNN Hero in 2021 and has been named an Architect of Change on the Maria Shriver blog in 2015. She proudly serves on the board of Christmas in the Park. She is big sister to Angel Ellenberger, who happens to have Down syndrome and is an exquisite actress, entertainer and comedian. DeAnna gave a TEDx talk in Helsinki, Finland, on the theme of Amplifying Silent Voices in October, 2025.
Members and guests, please welcome Rotarian DeAnna Pursai!
To learn more, go to:
To learn more about ESRAG, go to:
https://esrag.org/
District 5170 Climate Action Committee:
https://www.rotarydistrict5170.org/climate-action/
Katherine Hayhoe's TED Talk:
https://www.ted.com/talks/katharine_hayhoe_the_most_important_thing_you_can_do_to_fight_climate_change_talk_about_it
Hayhoe's book: Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World
https://www.amazon.com/Saving-Us-Climate-Scientists-Healing-ebook/dp/B08BZW2BQG/
To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:
http://rotary.cool
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