Named after the founder of Rotary International, Paul P. Harris, the Paul Harris Fellowship scheme was devised in 1956 as a way of incentivising Rotarians to donate to The Rotary Foundation. In the beginning it rewarded donations by individual Rotarians but it was later extended to donations by groups of persons which gave rise to the Fellowship being granted to the individual whom the donor club felt deserved it most.

Thus, in many clubs, a Paul Harris Fellowship became an award for exceptional service, the entitlement to the award being derived from the level of donations by the club or its members to The Rotary Foundation – which is the case in Wilton Rotary Club.

To date the following 19 members of Wilton Rotary Club have been awarded Paul Harris Fellowships for exceptional service.