Grove Rotary Awards 41 Grants for Community Projects

Checks totaling $84,969 were presented by Grove Rotary on Wednesday, Jan. 31, to community organizations for 41 projects in the Grand Lake area. The grants, which ranged from $500 to $7,900, were awarded following a formal application process last year.

Representatives of the recipient organizations were on hand at the presentation ceremony to receive the checks.

Each year, the Grove Rotary Foundation’s Charitable Contributions Committee reviews grant requests to provide financial support to local organizations that promote education, charitable and scientific activities that serve the public and enhance the city and Grand Lake area.

Funds for the grants were raised by local Rotarians, primarily from the highly successful LobsterFest benefit held on June 16, 2017. LobsterFest proceeds are used to support Rotary’s own service and educational projects as well as the community organization grants. The club also held other benefits, such as an annual golf tournament, to add to the available funds.

“We are delighted to share proceeds from LobsterFest and our other fundraisers with the community around us,” said Darren Cook, chair of the Rotary Charitable Contributions Committee. “That’s why everyone works so hard at LobsterFest, because we know it benefits many in our community. I want to say thank you to everyone who supports our fundraisers through sponsorships, donations, volunteer work, buying tickets, purchasing auction items and more.

“Clearly, this makes a huge difference in our community, and we appreciate everyone’s help.”

Other members of the Charitable Contributions Committee are Harlan Moore, Cindy Hefner, Pete Churchwell, Randy Hamill, Matt Carnes, Kay Lyn Beauchamp, Mark Morris, Kristi Wallace and past-chair Bill Keefer.

Cook said the committee works hard to evaluate grant requests from local organizations. This year, the committee reviewed 48 grant applications from local organizations, requesting a total of more than $200,000. Five of the awarded grants were challenge grants, in which the awardee must raise a matching amount to receive their funding.

Deadline for the current round of grants was November 1, 2017, and the committee began reviewing applications immediately.

Among the grant recipients was a program at Jay that provides weekend meals to children who would not otherwise have sufficient food. The Backpack Program received $4,500 to help purchase food items for these expanding efforts that are experiencing food shortages and increasing costs.

Programs at Grove Public Schools received several grants, including $3,500 for the high school biology department to build lab kits for use by 250 high school students each year.

The complete list of grant recipients includes:

• Grove High School Biology – lab kits, $3,500
• Jay Backpack Program – food for backpacks, $4,500
• Christian Medical Clinic – pharmaceuticals / laptops, $5,000
• Citizens Police Academy – academy supplies, $2,000
• DCCSAN – front entrance repair, $3,000
• Lighthouse Pregnancy Center – car seats, $2,445
• Community Crisis Center – brochures, $2,000
• Grove Early Childhood Center – slide, $1,000
• Boy Scout Troop 78 – camp scholarships and equipment, $695*
• Grand Lake Quilt Guild – fabric and materials, $1,000
• Grand Lake Shrine Club – transportation for children to hospital, $2,000
• Grove Lower Elementary – iPad Pros, $7,900
• Grove Upper Elementary Library – Chromebooks, license and equipment, $7,556
• Har-Ber Village Museum – outdoor movies, $1,250
• Jake's Event Grove – equipment, $2,000
• Kickin’ Asphalt – race registration fees, $1,300
• Lendonwood Gardens – handicap accessibility, $2,000
• Santa’s Old Broads – clothing and gifts for children, $1,000
• Turkey Ford School – computers, $1,095
• Grove Early Childhood Center – classroom fixtures, $797
• Grove Lower Elementary – C-pen readers, $549
• Grove Middle School – calculators, $918
• Grove Middle School Science – science fair expenses, $1,000
• Grove Upper Elementary Physical Education – rowing machines, $4,600
• GLARE – kit parts and entry fees, $5,000
• Grove Schools Cafeteria – service carts, $546
• Grove High School Band – music camp scholarships, $2,000*
• Grove Middle School – teacher STEM training, $1,400
• Camp Bandage – children’s lake safety program, $1,000
• Cleora Public Schools – robotics program, $1,479
• Grove Lower Elementary – Osmo, $534
• Grove High School Track/ Cross Country – timing software and laptop, $750*
• House of Hope – recovery books, $500
• Women’s Auxiliary (WAAMI) – fabric for baby blankets, $1,000
• CANO – advertising and materials, $1,000
• YMCA – youth summer camp assistance, $2,000
• Grand Lake Amateur Radio – repeater repairs, $1,000
• Grove Early Childhood Center – classroom tables, $747
• High School Softball and Baseball – field grooming machine, $4,000*
• Playmakers – display units, $1,408
• Grove Takedown Club – awards and tournament equipment, $1,500*

Grove Rotary, which has 176 members, is committed to responding to community needs, consistent with the club’s motto of “Service Above Self.”

Rotary's primary objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop service projects that address critical issues, such as children at risk, disabled persons, health care, poverty and hunger, clean water, polio eradication, literacy and numeracy.

Rotary International also supports programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers and other professionals, as well as vocational and career development.