By Brianna Sherman, Rotary Club of Denver Metro South, Colorado, USA
“This is the best thing our club has done in a long time!”
I got several calls like that after the 2024 EPIC Day of Service, and every single one made me smile. As the outreach chair for EPIC, I get to hear the stories – of joy, teamwork, and transformation. Clubs were energized by how many members showed up, how much fun they had, and the real good they achieved together.
EPIC started in 2022 as a grassroots idea. District governors Jeff Krause and Joanne Alfieri from Connecticut and Massachusetts answered then Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta’s call for a global day of service. They expected a one-time event. But clubs responded with such enthusiasm that they demanded it continue. It was clear to us that EPIC wasn’t just an event – it was a movement.
That movement is now international. Clubs across the U.S., Canada, Australia, Netherlands, and the UK are joining in, creating projects that reflect the needs of their own communities. That’s what makes EPIC so powerful: every project is unique, but we’re all united in purpose.
One of my favorite moments was watching a video of the Southington Club in Connecticut, USA. Dozens of Rotary members were packing meals at long tables, music playing in the background. Then the Neil Diamond song “Sweet Caroline” came on. The room was buzzing, but when the chorus hit – “Sweet Caroline… Da… Da… Da!” – everyone paused to belt it out together before going right back to work. That’s the kind of joyful spirit EPIC brings.
The vision is bold: for every Rotary club, in every community, in every country, to serve together on one EPIC Day. Imagine the impact of thousands of projects happening at once, all driven by Rotary’s core mission to create lasting change.
It’s easy to get involved. The 2025 EPIC Day of Service is on 17 May. Club presidents can simply designate an EPIC Champion to lead a local project and register it at www.epicdayofservice.org. Once listed, it appears on our interactive map where Rotary members – even non-members – can sign up to help. It’s an incredible way to connect with your community and show what Rotary is all about.
There’s also huge potential to raise funds for future service. One club, Denver Southeast, raised nearly $100,000 through a combination of member donations, friends, family, and sponsorships. That one day supports their service all year long. Another club, Parker Cherry Creek Valley, raised over $13,000 by hosting a free electronics recycling event and encouraging donations at drop-off.
EPIC also boosts public image and brings in new members. When people see Rotary in action – doing something visible, meaningful, and fun – they want to be part of it. We’ve seen it time and again: service opens doors.
To me, EPIC is Rotary at its best. It reminds us why we joined: to serve, to lead, to connect. Whether you’re planting trees, hosting a food drive, or packing hygiene kits, you’re part of something much bigger. You’re part of a global wave of good.
So whether you’re a longtime Rotarian or just getting started, I hope you’ll jump in. Make your next Rotary memory EPIC.
And if you happen to hear “Sweet Caroline” on 17 May … you know what to do.
Brianna Sherman is the immediate past president and 2024-25 service chair of the Rotary Club of Denver Metro South. She is also the global expansion chair on the EPIC Day of Service board of trustees.
https://blog.rotary.org/2025/05/15/rotary-clubs-unite-for-epic-day-of-service/