Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley awards nearly $50k in grants

Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley has awarded $48,037 to a wide range of charitable organizations throughout Sonoma Valley, a veritable pot of gold from the club’s annual ‘Luck ‘o the Irish’ St. Patrick’s Day raffle.

Rotarian Gayle Arrowood, the Sonoma mortgage broker who oversees the club’s Community Services Committee, said the club reviewed 31 applications from a wide range of social services and charitable groups. “It was a challenge narrowing down the requests from so many wonderful organizations doing so many wonderful things,” she said.

This year’s grant recipients and their awards:

• $1,532 – Jim and Billie Thrower Writing Faire
• $2,000 – KidScoop News – kids newspapers for Sassarini School
• $1,000 – Cub Scout scholarships
• $2,500 – First Responder Resiliency Program
• $3,650 – Jack London Partners – composting /tractor equipment for fire breaks
• $5,000 – Sgt Mike Baraz, SV deputy who lost his house in recent Napa County fire (photo)
• $   100 – Mac Portello – Eagle Scout project 
• $2,500 – Pets Lifeline – assistance with vet bills for the elderly
• $   120 – Stylus Pens for Prestwood students
• $   285 – Ranger Rick magazines for Prestwood kindergarten students
• $     75 – QuickReads for Prestwood intervention program
• $2,500 – Sonoma Conservatory of Dance scholarships
• $5,000 – Sonoma Overnight Support – funding for increased food costs
• $4,600 – Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley – alarm system
• $2,500 – KSVY/SV Communications – funds toward new equipment
• $2,000 – Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance – website and tools for virtual mentoring
• $1,500 – Teen Services Sonoma – new washer/dryer 
• $4,375 – Transcendence Theatre – arts education for children
• $2,800 – Venturing Crew 16, female troop of Boy Scouts – scholarships 
• $4,000 – Vintage House – funds for technology room

“Rotary is all about service above self,” Arrowood said. “Our efforts to raise and distribute financial support to groups that might not otherwise get the help reflects that.” 

Additionally, the club has helped a couple of communities through crises in recent years. In 2017 the club collaborated with members of the new Rotary Club of Sonoma Sunrise to raise and distribute about $1,000,000 in cash, food, and dry goods to help the valley recover from the county’s wildfires.

Both clubs also helped Rotary Club of Paradise raise money for that club’s community after the Camp Fire in 2018, as well.

The local Rotary group is a network of volunteers dedicated to improving life for residents of and visitors to Sonoma. Nearly 100 residents and businesspeople contribute their time and treasure to projects in Sonoma Valley. The group also works with local schools for Purple Pinkie Day to raise additional money to eradicate polio. Learn more at http://www.sonomavalleyrotary.org.