For many years, the Rotary Club of Joliet proudly supported literacy and education through its annual Dictionary Project, a hands-on initiative that placed a personal dictionary into the hands of local elementary school students.
The program was designed to encourage reading, strengthen vocabulary skills, and foster a lifelong appreciation for learning. Each year, Joliet Rotarians visited classrooms throughout Joliet Public Schools District 86 to distribute dictionaries directly to students, giving them a valuable educational resource they could use both at school and at home.
Through the Dictionary Project, more than 1,000 dictionaries were distributed annually to third and fourth-grade students across approximately 15 elementary schools. Participating schools included Eisenhower, Farragut, Forest Park, Woodland, and other District 86 schools throughout the community. The program provided students with a resource many were excited to call their own, helping them develop confidence in reading, writing, and language skills.
The classroom visits offered more than just a book distribution. Rotarians engaged students in interactive learning activities, demonstrating how to use a dictionary, helping them explore new words, and encouraging curiosity about language. These personal interactions created meaningful connections between students and community volunteers while reinforcing the importance of education.
As part of the program, Rotary members also introduced students to Rotary's Four-Way Test, a guiding set of ethical principles that asks:
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
By sharing these values, Rotarians encouraged students to think not only about academic success but also about character, responsibility, and respect for others.
While the Rotary Club of Joliet no longer conducts the Dictionary Project, the initiative remains an important part of the club's history and longstanding commitment to literacy. The program helped thousands of local students build foundational language skills and reflected Rotary's belief that education is one of the most powerful tools for strengthening communities.
Today, Rotary continues its literacy efforts through new initiatives, including support for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Will County, which provides free books to children from birth through age five and helps foster a love of reading from an early age.
The Dictionary Project serves as a lasting reminder of Rotary's dedication to investing in young people, expanding educational opportunities, and helping children discover the power of words.