Rotary rewards community service with grants During the club’s monthly luncheon, $24,000 in grants was presented to 22 different community and nonprofit organisations for helping their charity activities.
At a Rotary Club of Hanford (California, US — D 5230) meeting on Thursday, the Hanford Rotary Community Foundation rewarded local organisations for their service throughout the community.
During the club’s monthly luncheon, $24,000 in grants was presented to 22 different community and nonprofit organisations for helping the community.
The grants are awarded every year on behalf of the Hanford Rotary Community Foundation, which is a separate entity from the Rotary Club of Hanford.
Joe Casey, interim president of the Hanford Rotary Community Foundation, said the foundation had grant requests of over $84,000 this year.
The $24,000 that was granted came from the foundation, a donation for the Rotary Club and a donation from a Rotary Club member.
He said over the years the foundation has provided over $300,000 in grants.
This year, the grants went to a variety of organisations, including churches, veterans’ services, homeless services, animal support, food pantries, arts organisations and several others.
Scott Holwell, chairman of the Kings County Veterans Committee, said the grant helps with the Honour a Hero, Hire a Veteran job fair by contributing to the costs associated with updating canvas banners for the event and other promotional materials.
Holwell said the committee has received the grant in the past and it allows them to just do extra little things that help out in the end. This year’s job fair will be in March.
“This means we will be able to have funds to provide a quality job fair experience,” Holwell said.
“We’re pleased to be able to provide services to veterans in Kings County.”
Alice Roberts, office volunteer coordinator at the St Vincent de Paul Centre, said community partnerships with organisations like Hanford Rotary are definitely important for nonprofit organisations.
Roberts said the grant money will go toward the cost of updating air conditioning units at the centre.
She said the centre has worked with Rotary in the past that help with projects at the centre.
Roberts said the centre gives out food, clothing and small household items.
She said the clothing and household items are donated, but the food is all paid for by the centre; so when grant money can help pay for things like air conditioning units, it frees up more of the centre’s money to pay for food.
“We’re very appreciative to the Rotary Foundation for their continued support,” Roberts said.
Source: The Sentinel
