West Bay Rotary of Camden has awarded $12,350 in spring grants to nine non-profit organizations serving the underserved, promoting the rights of those in the margins, advocating care and appreciation of the environment, promotion of physical health and well-being, reducing domestic violence, and advancing literacy and education. The grants follow an intensive three-month process of application, evaluation, discussion, and careful collaboration by the West Bay Rotary Grants Committee.
In presenting the well-deserved grants before a packed breakfast meeting last Thursday, Club President Shelly Butler noted, “The quality, stature, and number of applications this year was remarkably high, reflecting a heightened interest and intense competition for the West Bay grants. We all work hard year-round to raise funds for our grants, and we’re extremely proud to be able to support such a diverse and impactful number of organizations.”
The following organizations received grants from West Bay Rotary:
~ New Hope Midcoast: Providing emergency housing for domestic violence victims, fights dating violence, and stalking throughout the Midcoast; providing a 24/7 hotline in English, Spanish, and 200-plus languages with interpretation service.
~ Merryspring Gardens: Supporting a program that offers young children free environmental education in a 66-acre park with meadows, woods, gardens, and workshops.
~ Area Interfaith Outreach: Supporting a new program to deliver fresh food to homes, as well as to students who need it.
~ Meals on Wheels (MCH): Delivering warm, at-home meals each week to more than 65 residents of Knox County.
~ Lincolnville Library Association: Supporting its Summer Reading Program, along with two tickets for adults and five for children to visit the Maine Botanical Gardens.
~ Wayfinder Schools: Supporting misplaced students or students who need a second chance at a high school graduation.
~ Trekkers: Supporting 11th grade students who otherwise couldn’t afford to be enrolled in supportive deliberately structured mentoring programs.
~ Olympia Snowe Leadership Institute: Supporting its program which fosters guidance and confidence in girls at Oceanside High School in Rockland through the specific tool of individual mentoring.
~ Penbay YMCA: Redusing the cost of infant daycare, an expanding service, for low-income households in Knox County.
About West Bay Rotary
West Bay Rotary is dedicated to supporting local nonprofits through service, collaboration, and philanthropy. To learn more about its initiatives and how you can get involved, visit www.WestBayRotaryOfMaine.org or come to a weekly meetings, Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the First Congregational Church in Camden. All are welcome.
On hand to receive spring grants from West Bay Rotary were Diane Lebson-Olympia Snow Leadership Initiative, Barbara Baldumon-Meals On Wheels (MCH), Kris Landy-Lincolnville Library Association, Rebekah Paradies-New Hope Midcoast, Anna Sideris-Pen Bay YMCA, Greg Marley-Wayfinder Schools, Alan Kearl-AIO Food & Energy Assistance, Stephanie Welch-Trekkers, Shelly Butler-West Bay Rotary President.
Rebekah Paradies, Executive Director New Hope Midcoast
Kris Landy, Lincolnville Library Association
John Frommer, Program Director Merryspring Garden
Greg Marley, Board Member Wayfinder Schools
Alan Kearl, Executive Director AIO Food & Energy Assistance
Anna Sideris, Development Director Pen Bay YMCA
Barbara Baldumon, Development Director MCH-Meals On Wheels
West Bay Rotary is dedicated to supporting local nonprofits through service, collaboration, and philanthropy.
