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More than 20 million girls drop out of school every year in India because no toilets are available. With Rotary International placing an emphasis on empowering young women, District 6820 is seeking donations to combat the problem in Mewat, India.

In memory of sitting District Governor Mark Anderson, who died unexpectedly on September 3, 2021, more than $234,900 has been raised to fund more than 30 toilets through a Rotary Global Grant.

Mark had shared with his 2021-22 district governor classmates that he was planning this project. Upon his death, they expressed an interest in contributing in his memory. All districts in Zones 30 and 31 have pledged $130,500 in district designated funds to the project. With the 80 percent match ($104,400) from the World Fund we will generate more than $234,900. It will be named the Mark Anderson Memorial Toilet Block Global Grant Project and will benefit hundreds of young girls in this poor section of India.

Our friend and fellow Rotarian Mark Anderson sadly passed away following a brief illness on September 3 at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He will forever be remembered for his outgoing personality, intelligence, career success and dedicated community service. But more importantly, he will be remembered for his strong faith, commitment to his church and love of his family.

Mark lived an exceptionally good life. Born in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, he grew up in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, where he attended high school and graduated as class valedictorian. He continued his education as an exchange student in Australia, studied engineering at Tulane University in New Orleans and specialized in software development at the University of Oxford in England.

Mark’s esteemed professional career included establishing a Nortel customer base for cellular and wireless products spanning Europe, the Middle East and Africa. That corporate experience whetted his entrepreneurial appetite and led to his founding of two highly successful international telecommunications companies.

His recognitions and awards are many honoring his expertise in sales, management, international business, finance, and entrepreneurial start-ups. Added to those are his special love for his church and enjoyment of all types of music and travel.

Mark joined the Rotary Club of Brookhaven in 2000, was a Paul Harris Fellow and for twenty-one years practiced “Service Above Self.” Being selected to serve as Rotary District 6820 Governor was not only an honor, but his personal mission to give back to those who had given to him.

Mark Anderson is survived by his loving wife Dr. Shahla Fataliyeva-Anderson, originally from Baku, Azerbaijan. Mark shall be remembered by all who knew him as a true friend and stellar Rotarian.

~Suman Das