The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley awarded $102,000 in grants to nonprofits and educational groups throughout Sonoma Valley during the past twelve months. These grants were made possible through the club’s fundraising endeavors, including their annual Luck o’ the Irish Raffle and Dinner. Rotary club members and grant recipients came together at a recent club luncheon to commemorate the occasion.
“We’ve been serving Sonoma Valley continuously since 1946, doing what we can to make our community a little bit better for the people who live, work, or visit here,” said Jim Carruthers, club president. “Our members work hard to raise the money, and when we award the grants, we ensure the money goes as far as possible in the community. We have no administrative costs to pay for, so nothing goes to waste.”
Left to right – Charles Goodwin, Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley; Alondra Marroquin, Sonoma Immigrant Services; Michelle Dale Jernigan, G3 Sonoma; Maida Herbst, Sonoma Valley Grange; Jane Hanson, Sonoma Splash; Jennifer Magallan, Sonoma Immigrant Services; Megan Hanson, Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance; Shanis Nelson, Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley; Tania Soderman, Sonoma Chicks Rescue and Sanctuary; Arminda Garcia Eiler, Comida Para Todos; Kathleen Penly, Old Adobe Preschool; Amanda Hubbard, Sonoma Ecology Center; Tom Haeuser, Friends In Sonoma Helping (F.I.S.H.); Gail Chadwin, Sonoma Valley Education Foundation; Jody Purdom, Pet’s Lifeline; Mary Catherine Cutcliff, Sonoma Community Center; Darcy McNairy, Girl Scouts Sonoma; Vicki Whiting, Kid Scoop News; Kristy Brindley, Just1Mike Foundation; Jim Carruthers, Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley
The recipients of the club’s grants encompassed a diverse range of initiatives, including funding for the Just1Mike Foundation to provide AEDs for Altimira Middle School, rides to medical appointments provided by F.I.S.H., robotics equipment for Girl Scouts Sonoma, a new storage container for the Sonoma Valley Grange, education materials for Sonoma Immigrant Services, an outdoor kitchen for the Woodland Star Charter School, a camping gear “library” provided by the Sonoma Ecology Center at Sugar Loaf Ridge State Park, tricycles and helmets for preschoolers at Old Adobe School, a new freezer and ice maker for the Sonoma Community Center, exercise equipment for Sweetwater Spectrum, equipment for the SOS Kitchen, swimming lessons at Sonoma Splash for underserved youth, and travel expenses for the Sonoma Valley High School mock trial team.
“These grants reflect the wide range of need here,” said Shanis Nelson, chair of the club’s grants committee. “Our grants are meant to be very accessible to local organizations who deliver direct services to the Sonoma Valley, and funding is based on the proceeds from our Luck of the Irish Raffle and Dinner.”
“Our grants program typically focuses on nonprofits and schools,” Carruthers noted. “Additionally, our members donate their time to help Sonoma Valley, such as helping maintain Sonoma Garden Park and the Sonoma bike path, removing garbage and debris from Sonoma Creek, helping restore the historic groves at Jack London State Historic Park, and hosting the city’s annual “All American Picnic” on Memorial Day at the Veterans Building.”
The Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley meets at 12 noon on Wednesdays at the Sonoma Golf Club. Visitors are welcome. Contact John Coulston at Johndcoulston@gmail.com to attend.
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