The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor has awarded Linda Eastman, of Rochester Hills, the Robert S. Northrup Humanitarian Award for her extraordinary commitment to global service. Established in 2018, the award recognizes individuals who have made long-term, sustainable contributions to humanitarian efforts at local, national, or international levels.
"Linda Eastman exemplifies the Rotary spirit of ‘Service Above Self,’” said Christine Hage, President of the Rochester Rotary Club. "Her passion, perseverance, and generosity have transformed countless lives. She is a remarkable example of what one person’s dedication can accomplish."
A Life Dedicated to Service
Eastman’s humanitarian journey began unexpectedly 44 years ago during a vacation to Mexico. Frustrated by language barriers, she returned home determined to bridge the communication gap. While raising four children as a non-traditional student at Oakland University, she pursued a degree in Latin American Studies and Spanish, graduating summa cum laude, an honor achieved by only two students that year. She later earned a Nonprofit Management Certificate, further preparing herself for leadership in humanitarian work.
From left to right, we have Nurzhan Zholdybalinov, Deputy Head of ElectronicRresources at the National Academic Library of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Next is Zhanar Kulzhayeva, the American Corners program coordinator at Kazakhstan's US Embassy and Consulate. Zhanar is fluent in English and is the delegation's facilitator. Ainur Shaimukhanbetova is the Chief Executive Officer of Karagada Regional Universal Research Library. and is head of reference at the East Kazakhstan regional library. Altoty Saliyeva is the Department Head of the Aktobe Regional Universal Scientific Library. Meruyert Zhailibayeva is the head of reference at the East Kazakhstan Regional Library. Last but not least is Meiram Beltembayev, the director of the centralized Library system of Almaty. 
We began our journey at Hitsville USA, home of the Motown Museum, where we saw the iconic hat and glove Michael Jackson wore in the Billie Jean video—an incredible piece of music history he personally donated during his visit. 
The day culminated at Orchestra Hall, where the Detroit Symphony Orchestra delivered a stunning concert performance of Bizet’s Carmen. As we departed, we had the unexpected pleasure of meeting one of the performers, who graciously posed for a photo with members of our delegation.
Day 2 was packed with tours and great conversations. We started at the OPC Social and Activities Center (our local senior citizens center), enjoyed some delicious Detroit-style pizza at Buddy’s, and explored the impressive 88,000-square-foot Meadowbrook Hall. This afternoon, we’re touring Oakland University’s Kresge Library to see academic library services in action.
OPC’s Meals on Wheels program is designed for seniors who cannot shop and/or prepare meals. It allows seniors to age in place and encourages independence for those who wish to remain in their homes for as long as possible. However, OPC’s MOW Program is more than a meal. Volunteers provide a wellness check and deliver a hot, nutritious meal to homebound seniors. There is no waiting list, and meals are received within 24 hours of request. Since 2023, OPC has delivered over 92,000 meals!
