The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
Rotary established the recognition in 1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships.
The first Paul Harris Fellows included past RI Director Allison G. Brush, who served during the 1937-38 Rotary year, and longtime RI Treasurer Rufus F. Chapin, both for donations made in 1946. Mrs. Adan Vargas was the first woman to receive the recognition, for a gift made in 1953. Mrs. Harry L. Jones was the second, and one of only five people recognized for contributions actually made in that inaugural year.
Early Paul Harris Fellows received a certificate of recognition. In 1969, the Foundation unveiled the first Paul Harris Fellow medallion at the Rotary Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Japanese metal artist Fiju Tsuda created the piece under the direction of former Foundation Trustee Kyozo Yuasa. Today, Paul Harris Fellows receive a certificate and pin.
Many notable figures have been named Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk.
The number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006.
The Spring-Ford Rotary Club is proud of our history of members becoming Paul Harris Fellows.
List of Our Club Fellows
| Donor | Recognition Level | Achieved Date | Original PHF Date |
| Lew Deery | PHF+8 | 12-Jan-2016 | 30-Aug-2004 |
| Thomas Smith, II | PHF+7 | 06-Oct-2023 | 19-Jun-1997 |
| Daniel White | PHF+7 | 02-Oct-2022 | 29-Sep-2020 |
| Thomas G Wolpert | PHF+7 | 22-Nov-2023 | 8-Feb-2016 |
| Edward R. Nugent, III | PHF+6 | 08-Oct-2023 | 17-Mar-1988 |
| David Akers | PHF+4 | 19-Jul-2023 | 23-Jul-2020 |
| Dana Henzler | PHF+3 | 02-Nov-2017 | 8-Feb-2016 |
| R. James Oehlert | PHF+3 | 22-Nov-2023 | 31-Dec-2001 |
| Christopher M Laskey | PHF+2 | 06-Oct-2023 | 19-May-2021 |
| Ronald H Black | PHF+1 | 23-Apr-2001 | 8-Jan-1988 |
| H. Thomas Droege | PHF+1 | 28-Dec-2023 | 7-Jul-2004 |
| Joseph A. Giunta | PHF+1 | 26-Jul-2022 | 19-May-2021 |
| William W. Hoffman | PHF+1 | 28-Dec-2023 | 19-Dec-2018 |
| Richard L. Mull + | PHF+1 | 06-Jul-2012 | 8-Jan-1988 |
| Damian M. Petaccio + | PHF+1 | 08-Feb-2015 | 31-Dec-2012 |
| John M Salamone | PHF+1 | 03-Jun-2008 | 3-Jun-2008 |
| Ralph L. Alderfer + | PHF | 12-Nov-2000 | |
| Christopher Benedict | PHF | 31-May-2013 | |
| Barbara H. Black | PHF | 25-Apr-2001 | |
| Melanie Bowen | PHF | 27-May-2015 | |
| William Breslawski, Jr. | PHF | 08-Feb-2015 | |
| Ronald F Brien | PHF | 01-Jan-1981 | |
| Jamie Cascino | PHF | 02-Feb-2017 | |
| J. Roger Cattermole + | PHF | 09-Sep-1992 | |
| Erin P. Cohen | PHF | 19-Jul-2023 | |
| Donald J.L. Coppedge | PHF | 21-Jun-2005 | |
| James M. Dalton | PHF | 06-Jun-2014 | |
| Dominic Dellaquila + | PHF | 01-Jan-1979 | |
| Jerry Fahringer | PHF | 01-Jan-1979 | |
| Bonnie Fetterolf | PHF | 08-Jun-2016 | |
| C. Allan Freece + | PHF | 07-Jul-1993 | |
| Walter F. Gadzicki | PHF | 19-Jun-2018 | |
| Donna Marie Godfrey | PHF | 22-Nov-2023 | |
| David J. Groff + | PHF | 01-Jan-1977 | |
| David R. Hunsberger + | PHF | 22-Jun-2004 | |
| Frank Husted | PHF | 03-Mar-2008 | |
| Eugene P. Krasley | PHF | 29-Jun-1988 | |
| Carl A. La Mastra | PHF | 13-Jun-2006 | |
| Rebecca E. La Mastra | PHF | 13-Jun-2006 | |
| Charles Laskey, Jr. | PHF | 18-Jun-1999 | |
| Charles Lebow | PHF | 19-Jun-2003 | |
| Alethea Lynch | PHF | 18-Jun-1999 | |
| Joseph A. Manjardi | PHF | 15-Jun-1990 | |
| Richard Moyer | PHF | 09-Nov-1984 | |
| Janet Neff | PHF | 05-Aug-2002 | |
| Paul Neff | PHF | 13-Jun-2006 | |
| Donald A Nelson + | PHF | 01-Jan-1977 | |
| Thelma Nelson | PHF | 13-Nov-2000 | |
| Ronald Nettles | PHF | 11-Jun-2002 | |
| Patrick Nugent | PHF | 27-Jul-2020 | |
| James R. Roth | PHF | 11-Jun-2007 | |
| Barry Shafer | PHF | 24-Feb-2024 | |
| Dawn M. Shaner | PHF | 20-Sep-2011 | |
| Beth Smith | PHF | 26-Dec-2013 | |
| Jake Talley | PHF | 09-Sep-2019 | |
| Timothy J. Tieperman | PHF | 06-Nov-2008 | |
| Kenneth L Wadsworth | PHF | 29-Oct-2001 | |
| C. Lee Wanner | PHF | 08-Oct-1996 | |
| Gale E. Weber + | PHF | 08-Nov-1999 | |
| Robert Weber | PHF | 11-Jun-2010 | |
| Patricia E. Webster | PHF | 21-Jul-1997 | |
| Robert L. Weikel + | PHF | 08-Jan-1988 | |
| Gail Wellington | PHF | 13-Jun-2006 | |
| David R. Willauer | PHF | 04-May-2003 | |
| Sandy Zentz | PHF | 11-May-2007 |