AURORA | The Rotary Club of Aurora has received the city’s 2025 Community Spirit Award in recognition of its work as a community nonprofit agency, city officials announced.
The award was presented Dec. 5.
According to the award nomination, members of the Rotary Club of Aurora have volunteered hundreds of hours on a wide range of projects this year. Those efforts include support for the Aurora Fire Rescue Fire Safety Trailer, the Aurora State of the City event, Shots for Tots, Salvation Army holiday bell ringing and Flower Power, which delivers flowers from the Garden Show to nursing homes.
The club has also provided and delivered Kindles or books to third graders in Aurora schools.
One of the organization’s signature efforts is presenting the annual State of the City event featuring the mayor. In 2025, the event drew more than 400 people and served as the club’s major fundraiser. Net proceeds totaled about $44,000 and were awarded through grants approved by the Aurora Rotary Foundation to youth and education organizations.
Rotarian Patti Bateman accepted the honor on behalf of the club. Bateman was a city librarian, eventually heading up the city’s Library and Cultural Facilities division. Her Aurora career spanned more than 40 years.
The Rotary Club of Aurora was cited for its long history of community involvement and service, reflecting the organization’s motto, “Service Above Self.”