ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ABOVE SELF AWARD 2026
Service Above Self has long been a hallmark of Rotarians who devote their time and energy to helping their neighbors — near and far — in significant ways.
Rotary International created the Service Above Self Award to recognize members who fully embody our primary motto. While many Rotary members distinguish themselves through service, RI wants to especially recognize those who make it a way of life.
Each year, District Governors and RI Directors worldwide can nominate members whose service activities have had an impact on humanity. From this pool of exceptional candidates, a maximum of 150 recipients are chosen.
This year, they only selected 132 recipients. Imagine that…132 recipients out of 1.2 million members worldwide. The last time someone in our district received the Service Above Self Award was in 2020 and the recipient was Jim Halderman.
It is with great pleasure that District Governor Cindy Rold announces the 2026 Service Above Self Award is going to Steve Werner.
Let’s start with Steve’s Rotary service activities. A long-time member of the Denver Southeast Club, Steve has served Rotary at the club, district, and international levels. He is widely recognized for his leadership in advancing Rotary’s mission in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
Affectionately referred to as the “Godfather of WASH,” Steve has leveraged his global experience, extensive networks, and innovative ideas to help position Rotary as a leader in addressing WASH challenges.
Steve co-founded the District 5450 WASH Local Action Group, which is now celebrating the 16th anniversary of its annual WASH Symposium. This Symposium has hosted hundreds of attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and friends, and has highlighted a diverse array of WASH topics and projects from around the world.
He has also played key roles in Rotary’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotarian Action Group (WASH-RAG), the Rotary WASH Ambassadors Program, WASH-RAG World Water Summits, and he helped initiate programs such as the Peaceful Schools initiative.
His tireless advocacy and mentorship have helped cultivate the next generation of WASH and development professionals within Rotary and beyond.
Beyond Rotary, Steve has devoted his career to humanitarian service and nonprofit leadership. He served as Executive Director of Water For People, where he guided the organization through significant growth in budget, staffing, and program reach.
His leadership extended to CARE International, Habitat for Humanity, the American Cancer Society, and the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Steve’s expertise as a consultant has benefited dozens of nonprofits and NGOs, helping them improve strategic planning, fundraising, and board leadership.
His service journey began in the Peace Corps, where he and his wife served in South Korea, and later through Peace Corps Response in the Republic of Georgia.
He has been recognized as a Kellogg Foundation Fellow and Salzburg Seminar Fellow, reflecting his leadership and vision in the international development field.
For more than 14 years, Steve and his wife also served as foster parents, extending their home and hearts to children in need.
Steve Werner’s life epitomizes Rotary’s ideal of Rotary’s motto Service Above Self. His decades-long commitment to humanitarian causes, both within and outside of Rotary, shows a consistent pattern of placing the needs of others before his own.
Steve embodies service not just through organizational leadership but also through personal commitment.
His gift for connecting people, building partnerships, and investing in the next generation ensures that his impact extends far beyond his direct service.
Steve is a leader who multiplies good by empowering others, a bridge-builder across organizations and cultures, and an inspiring example of a life lived in service.
His life reflects a deep and sustained commitment to service, leadership, and building stronger communities.