2023 Midday Rotary Citizen of the Year: Bill Wilkinson

Bill Wilkinson's extraordinary commitment to improving the lives of indigenous communities around San Miguel has earned him the esteemed title of Midday Rotary's Citizen of the Year.
 
For the past nine years, Bill's tireless dedication and compassion have left an indelible mark on countless individuals. Like most projects, his were born of noticing needs that he could fill.

His journey began with a simple act of volunteerism as a driver for Jovenes Adelante. While visiting El Lindero, he witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by indigenous populations in underfunded schools. He brought in volunteers to help them with reading and offered a scholarship to enable a student to attend a four-year nursing school.
 
The next community, Salitrillo, had different obstacles. In addition to English lessons and scholarships, they needed a library, clean water, and internet access. He addressed each of these concerns: building both a water catchment system and a library that he stocked with books.

Over the years, he’s extended his reach to nine separate communities, building computer labs, robotics clubs, and more water catchment systems, while also donating computers and refrigerators and benches as needs arose. Each year he and his wife offer numerous scholarships to young people of the campos. They also pay teachers to stay after school to teach computer literacy.

The list of Bill’s generous gifts of time, money, and effort goes on for pages. In addition to his local endeavors, he’s organized awareness events to address pressing issues such as rural education and the water crisis, rallying stakeholders and university students to join the cause. Bill's impact reverberates far and wide and reflect his unwavering commitment to holistic community development. His collaborative spirit shines through partnerships with local organizations and universities, amplifying his efforts to address pressing issues like rural education and the water crisis. His recent establishment of the NGO, Apoyo Escolar, underscores his dedication to scaling up his philanthropic endeavors.

Bill Wilkinson's journey epitomizes Rotary's ethos of service above self. His steadfast dedication and unwavering passion serve as an inspiration to us all, reminding us of the profound impact one individual can make in creating a brighter future for communities in need. The Midday Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende is proud to offer him 2023’s Citizen of the Year Award. We hold him up as an example of what one big-hearted person can accomplish and wish him the best of luck in his many ongoing endeavors.
​

Please leave a message for Bill below.

Past Recipients

​2007 – Saul and Linda Whynman / Audubon, Casita Linda
2008 – Donna Quathamer / Casa de Los Angeles
2009 – Robin Loving / Casa Hogar Santa Julia, A.C.
2010 – Chela Martinez / CEDESA
2011 – Joe and Antonette Lim / So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E.)
2012 – Patricia Palacios Cortes / Centro Infantil San Pablo
2013 – Olivia Muniz Rodriguez / Feed the Hungry
2014 – Ezequiel Mojica Galvan / Apoyo a Gente Emprendeora A.C.
2015 - Mario Arturo Hernandez Pena / El Charco del Ingenio A.C.
2016 – Kathleen Devine / Mujeres en Cambio A.C.
2017 – Elizabeth “Betse” Davies / Patronato Pro Ninos A.C.
2018 – Dra. Grace Joanne Lim Baga / So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E.)
2019 – Susan Page / San Miguel Literary Sala
2020 – Joey Merrifield and Jessica Frick–Liston / Covid -19 Healthcare Teams
2021 – Myrna Montes / Amigos al 100
2022 – Lety Fernandez / Cruz Roja