Ayuda International · Ayuda VIPs

Sophia D’Angelo, Rotarian at 11

The youngest member of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach, and quite possibly one of the youngest Rotarians in the world. We have watched Sophia grow into an amazing young woman who lives Rotary’s motto: Service Above Self.

How it began

Too young for Interact, too young for Rotaract

At 11, Sophia wanted to serve. But she was too young to join Interact, the Rotary club for ages 12 to 18, and far too young for Rotaract. So Steve Bender and her mother, Kathleen D’Angelo, now Youth Leadership Chair of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach, went looking for a way in.

After weeks of researching Rotary International’s rules and contacting Rotary headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, they found the answer. Rotary’s standard club constitution sets no minimum age for membership. Sophia could be a Rotarian.

On January 16, 2022, at age 11, Sophia was inducted into the Rotary Club of Newport Beach, with Steve as her sponsor. The District Governor sent her a letter that began, “Dear Rotarian Sophia, Welcome to Rotary!”

11Her age when she was inducted into Rotary on January 16, 2022Sponsor: Steve Bender, Rotary Club of Newport Beach

Service Above Self

Watching Sophia grow

January 2022Inducted into the Rotary Club of Newport Beach at age 11.
2024Signs the Global Climate Pledge with the club and volunteers at the Ayuda dental clinic in Placentia.
April 2026Named co-chair of The Galapagos Project. At EarthX in Dallas she presents the 4-7-8-17 program on the Rotary stage, joins the youth panel, shares the stage with Past Rotary International President Barry Rassin, and is named co-chair of Rotary Reefs.
Summer 2026Leads Rotary Reefs social media, works on oral hygiene education with Dr. Jennifer Stone, becomes a contributing editor of The Meridian, teaches public speaking at the Boys and Girls Club, gives an Earth Talks presentation and is featured in a Rotary district bulletin. She also helps create the bilingual Sonrisas Saludables oral health poster.
August 2026, Bocas del ToroCo-leads the “From Reef to River” broadcast, teaches the sugar lesson to the children of the Bocatorito school and plants the Trammell S. Crow Rare Tree Forest with Rotarians from six countries. She also co-leads the new Rotary intergenerational meetings that began in Bocas.
September 2026Building “Students Teaching Students,” a course that lets young people teach one another, and showcasing her work with Growing Green Leaders.

Sophia D'Angelo teaching children at the Bocatorito school how much sugar is in their drinks — Teaching the children of the Bocatorito school how much sugar is in their drinks.

Vaill D'Angelo Balaban and Sophia D'Angelo planting in the forest — With Vaill D’Angelo Balaban, planting the Trammell S. Crow forest.

Sophia D'Angelo and her sponsor Steve Bender in the new forest — With her Rotary sponsor, Steve Bender.

Sophia holding the sugar poster with the Rotary team and schoolchildren — With the Rotary team and the Bocatorito students.

Growing Green Leaders The Galapagos Project Ayuda and EarthX

Sophia D’Angelo, Rotarian at 11

Too young for Interact, too young for Rotaract

Watching Sophia grow

Join us at a clinic