Rotary Gives Again
Need a grant?
Now’s the time.
The Rotary Club of Parole has opened the floodgates for non-profit, youth-focused grant hopefuls.
Through member donations and club fundraising, the 34-year-old Parole club gives away $25,000 to $30,000 annually.
One of the club’s largest fundraisers is the annual Naptown BarBAYq, a food festival and family fun day with live music and a barbeque competition.
Money raised there and year-long is divided among applicants that fit the club’s vision to make a positive difference in the lives of Chesapeake Country youngsters.
“We choose our winners based on their youth support,” said Prue Clendenning, Rotary Club grant chairperson. “Our board reviews applications based on three categories: art, education and health.”
Last year, the Parole Rotary Club granted $26,755 to 13 organizations.
One of the 2018 winners was Seeds 4 Success, a community non-profit working to give low-income kids in Eastport the skills and support they need to succeed.
“Last year we received $1,500 from the Parole Rotary Club,” said Najiba Hlemi, executive director for Seeds 4 Success. “With that money we were able to send our students to two camps during the summer.”
Hlemi hopes the Rotary will choose Seeds 4 Success again in 2019.
“We want kids to have the tools to become successful in life through education,” she said. “The Parole Rotary Club believes in that, too, so we are definitely applying for another grant this year.”
All applications are due midnight March 8: www.parole-rotary.org.