By way of celebrating the Centenary of Rotary International in 2005, the Rotary Centenary Rose project is a means of not only marking the occasion with a specially commissioned flower, but is also a way of generating much needed funds for Rotary Foundation.

Instigated by The Rotary Club of Aberdeen St. Machar, this project is sponsored and funded by District 1010, with 72 individual Clubs each contributing financially towards the commissioning of a special rose named "Heart of Gold" in honour of the Centenary Year. The project has obtained the backing of the R.I.B.I. National Executive and has been adopted as an official R.I.B.I. Centenary project for 2005. The "Heart of Gold" rose has been bred by James Cocker & Sons in Aberdeen, who are one of the foremost rose breeders in the world and who are also proud to be Royal Warrant holders. They have produced a hybrid tea rose of outstanding beauty and colour, with a delicate perfume, which has excellent resistance to pests and disease.

For every rose bush sold a donation of £1.50 shall be made to the Rotary Foundation Charity and the project provides a wonderful opportunity to mark an extremely important event in the history of Rotary and at the same time generate funds for many worthy causes across the globe. Individual Rotarians are encouraged to buy the rose, not only for their own enjoyment, but also to give as a gift to family and friends and make them aware of the Centenary and its significance within Rotary International. Similarly, individual Rotary Clubs are encouraged to plant "Heart of Gold" roses in prominent locations throughout their locality, highlighting the celebration of 100 years of service to the community.

In order that sufficient stocks of the rose are available to individual Rotarians, Clubs and members of the public, it is desirable that orders are placed at an early date to allow sufficient quantities of the rose plants to be bred well in time for the centenary.

The "Heart of Gold" Rose project provides the opportunity for Rotarians to publicly celebrate a centenary of great achievements and in doing so generate funding for Rotary Foundation to help facilitate the many worthwhile causes that it supports worldwide. Having "sown the seeds" of an idea and watched it grow into an innovative way of celebrating the very best of what Rotary stands for, the "Heart of Gold" rose has the potential to raise funds for Foundation projects across the globe that can truly "make a difference."