Today we’d like to introduce you to David Heimer.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My parents were missionaries, so I spent quite a bit of my childhood in Africa. That experience caused me to be drawn to organizations that bring people together around something larger than themselves. Over time, I came to realize that while individual effort matters, the real multiplier is what happens when capable people commit to working together. That is what drove me and brought me the most satisfaction in my professional career, and eventually that perspective led me to the Addison Rotary Club. What began as curiosity turned into respect for what a focused, service-oriented group can accomplish over time. I am in my second term as club President, and I am very proud of what we do. Our flagship effort is the Addison Rotary Open, an annual fundraiser benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. This year alone, the event raised $285,000. Over the 41-year history of our club, we’ve contributed more than $5,000,000. That’s a huge accomplishment for a club of only 40 members!
But the club’s impact doesn’t stop there. In addition to that flagship effort, our members stay active locally and internationally. Recent projects include planting trees at a Dallas park, bagging and prepping food for kids, supporting a Japanese exchange student, building Language Learning Systems for the Anne Frank Elementary School, providing a state-of-the-art $11,000 keratometer to the Guerrero Clinic in Mexico, and helping fund water wells in Africa.
What I find most compelling isn’t any single project, it’s the totality of it all. Our projects, large and small, have made an amazing impact.
Along the way, our club has been fortunate to receive recognition such as Club of the Year, Rotarian of the Year, and Outstanding President awards, but I think of those less as trophies and more as indicators of a club focused on making a significant difference.
The Addison Rotary Club attracts people who want to be useful, not just busy. This is a terrific club for anyone looking for a practical, welcoming way to connect with their community and contribute to something that genuinely makes a difference. There’s a lot more about our club on our website: www.AddisonRotary.org.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the ongoing challenges for any service organization is helping people realize that meaningful community involvement doesn’t require unlimited time, a special background, or lots of money, just a willingness to participate. Anyone with just a small bit of time can make a difference. And it’s good for you! The right service organization will add energy, perspective, and relationships to your life, not compete with it. People who join service clubs live longer, are healthier, and feel a greater sense of purpose.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My professional career was focused on helping residential service businesses become more successful. I was a founder and Chief Operating Officer of Service Nation, Inc. It was tremendously satisfying to see how we could help small businesses grow, operate more effectively, serve their communities better, and create opportunities for their teams.
Similarly, as President of the Addison Rotary Club, beyond participating in service projects, I’ve spent time helping the club strengthen its operations – improving processes, organization, and follow-through – because a well-run organization can do far more good in the community.
That operational foundation is what allows us to be effective partners to other organizations. Our club works on local service projects, partners with nonprofits, supports education initiatives, and contributes to both local and international humanitarian efforts.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I enjoy most is helping connect capable, well-intentioned people with opportunities where their time and skills can translate into real outcomes, whether that’s fundraising, hands-on service, or building partnerships that allow good projects to scale.
I enjoy working with people who are thoughtful, reliable, and genuinely interested in contributing. I especially like projects where you can see a tangible result; where effort turns into something concrete and useful for the community.
I’m not a fan of performative work or activity that exists mainly to look good rather than do good. I prefer practical, collaborative efforts that are focused on outcomes and value.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.AddisonRotary.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addison_rotary/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/addisonrotary
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/addison-rotary
- Twitter: https://x.com/addison_rotary
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AddisonRotary
- Other: @addisonrotary.bsky.social
