Steve Glenn was recently recognized at the Rotary District Conference for his extraordinary service to Ukrainian refugees as they fled the invasion of their country. Though Glenn has led a life of service, he has provided herculean efforts to support Ukrainian refugees. In March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, he launched Operation Safe Harbor, an effort to provide temporary housing for refugees arriving in Poland as they fled the war in Ukraine. These refugees were predominantly women and children. He leveraged his contacts in the travel industry to partner with a hotel in Warsaw to provide rooms for displaced families, much more favorable than sleeping in cots in an open gymnasium.Glenn utilized his points, airline mileage, and personal funds to send employees from his company and Rotarians from eastern Nebraska and western Iowa to be "boots on the ground" in Warsaw. He enlisted his church to serve as the fiscal agent for tax-deductible donations, keeping overhead to a minimum. He worked with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Warsaw to coordinate who would stay at the hotel, provided transportation from the train station to the hotel, dispatched his contacts to procure medicine, and guided the refugees toward government benefits provided by Poland.
In recognizing Glenn's efforts, a former Rotary District Governor, Carol Horner said, "Steve's effort is extraordinary. It personifies what a Rotarian and a person of action should do. Steve's effort (done on extremely short notice and with far-reaching impact) is unsurpassed.
Glenn helped raised over 1 million dollars, and more than 1,200 Ukrainians were impacted by Operation Safe Harbor. Congratulations, Steve! We are proud of you.
Source: Rotary District 5650 2023 District Conference
