When a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on 28 March 2025, the Rotary Club of Bangkok collected 329,535 Baht and transferred it to disaster relief in less than a week.
The earthquake struck at 12:50pm on Friday, 28 March 2025.
By the following Thursday — one week later, at the Club's regular weekly meeting — members had contributed 329,535.60 Baht to the District 3350 Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund had already started disbursing money on the ground.
The money came from two places: the Smilebox collection at the 4 April Thursday meeting, and direct contributions from members in the days between the earthquake and that meeting. Sister clubs including RC Makati, RC Palo Alto, and RC Taipei South World also contributed.
What Happened on the Ground
District 3350, under District Governor Patsri Suwimol, moved fast. On 3 April — six days after the earthquake — the Fund disbursed 200,000 Baht: 100,000 Baht through the Rotary Club of Shwe Bangkok for essential medicines and medical supplies, and 100,000 Baht through Rotary clubs in Myanmar, coordinated by AG Su Su Tin, for food aid.
By 7 April, total donations across the district had reached 501,744.35 Baht. On 2 May, District Governor Patsri led a delegation to Myanmar personally. The remaining funds went toward rebuilding.
Why Speed Matters
Disaster relief is most effective in the first two weeks. Access routes that later become impassable are still open. Medical needs are acute but treatable. The window for preventing deaths from injury, infection, and exposure is short.
The Club's ability to collect and transfer nearly 330,000 Baht within a week — without a formal campaign, grant application, or committee approval — comes from something simple: trust. Members trust the Club, trust where the money goes, and give when the need is clear. The mechanism to channel that giving exists because it was built in advance.
The People Who Gave
The contributor list reads like a roll-call of regular members: AG Abdullah Alawadi, PP Ateeb Maskati, PP Chiemi Svensson, President Danu Chotikapanich, Rtn Dr. Francesca Arato, PP Kallaya Leeissarapong, PP Linda Cheng, PP Maleeratna Plumchitchom, PP Mark Butters, and dozens more. New members recently inducted — Rtn Abhijay Mahajan, Rtn Dr. Hans-Georg Till Boehmer, Rtn Klaus Feilkas — gave alongside thirty-year veterans.
That's what a club that works looks like.
To support future disaster relief efforts, consider donating to the Rotary Club of Bangkok Foundation at RCBFoundation.org.