The Hancock Rotary Club was organized on March 17, 1921 and officially recognized by Rotary International on April 1, 1921. The club was developed under the same objectives of the International Rotary, which were to bring together community leaders and promote service, integrity, and goodwill. Membership was limited to one member from each business or profession and as with all rotary clubs the Hancock club was a non-political, non-religious based organization.

In their early years the club was actively involved in community and district projects, which included cleanup of the local bathing beach, sponsorship of events for disabled children, and various parties, festivals, and camps in the area. In particular, Hancock Rotary was heavily involved in the care and wellbeing of children with disabilities in the area. They sponsored clinics at St. Joseph’s Hospital to identify children in need of treatment in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as well as yearly Christmas parties for children under 15, which included a dinner, Santa Claus, and gifts. Other initiatives included the Polio Plus Program, started in 1985 to immunize children against polio, vocational service awards and scholarships, and a yearly Honors Convocation to recognize honor students at Hancock and Dollar Bay Schools.

In the early 1950’s Rotary Club of Hancock established a non-profit organization called Copper Country Charities, Inc., which served as a means of financial support for community activities and projects. Projects completed under Rotary were funneled through CCC, Inc. and included fundraisers such as those done in partnership with the Michigan Tech Little Theater Group under the direction of Joe Kirkish and their annual Charity Ball.