Soundings (3/13/18)

 

On behalf of our club’s Charitable Giving Committee, Aaron Lemperes gave an introduction to the committee’s work: Each year, the committee solicits applications from local non-profit organizations seeking small grants, typically between $500-$2500. The committee met in January and made decisions on funding based on the following criteria:  This year we received 22 requests, and 10 of those were chosen and granted a total of $18,000. Our criteria for determining suitable projects:

1. Local community focus

2. Organizations proven record of success

3. An identifiable program or project.

4. Provides a public relations opportunity for Rotary

5. Impact of this grant award, compared to other funding sources

6. Provides a program directly serving at-risk populations including children, the elderly, those with disabilities, individuals affected by violence/sex trafficking and homelessness.

 

Ten of our recipients came up and spoke about their organizations and how our grant money will be spent:

 

Joan Carrington is a volunteer with the Assistance League of Bellingham, which is part of a national organization with 120 chapters throughout the country. Each chapter’s focus is on its local community’s needs.  Assistance League of Bellingham is best known for its program Operation School Bell that provides school clothing and shoes for over 1700 kindergarten through eighth grade students. This year the program has expanded to include homeless high school students. The money that BBRC donated will go to this program.  The kids are identified by their school counselors.  http://assistanceleaguebellingham.org  

 

Julie Guay is the Director of Blue Skies for Children, whose mission is to raise hope and self-esteem by sponsoring enrichment programs and other essentials for homeless, low-income and foster children in Whatcom and Skagit Counties. The BBRC money will go to enrichment opportunities, providing musical instruments, attending a show, and school backpacks. http://www.blueskiesforchildren.org  

 

Dr. Barbara Mathers-Schmidt spoke on behalf of the Interfaith Coalition, a “community of many faiths” which strives to eliminate homelessness and poverty in Whatcom County.  They try to fill gaps in human services to meet housing and other needs of marginalized people. Our money will go to supporting their recent project called “Family Promise Center”:  It is the first homeless day center in Bellingham and will be opening soon.  Family Promise will partner with religious congregations to use their buildings and resources to provide temporary shelter, meals and companionship to homeless families. During the day, families go to a day center and work with a case manager to access housing, jobs and community resources. Family Promise keeps homeless children and their parents together in a supportive environment while they work to get back on their feet. There will be 13 host congregations, each taking a turn. Look for an invitation to the Open House. https://www.interfaith-coalition.org  

 

Habitat for Humanity - Fred Sheppard talked about our funds going to help build Telegraph Townhomes in partnership with Kulshan Community Land Trust. For these 24 affordable homes, like all HFH homes, the occupants will receive a 0% loan, participate in the construction, and while living there they are responsible for paying off the mortgage before the house becomes their own. http://www.hfhwhatcom.org 

 

Kait Whiteside (director) from Max Higby Center  - They provide programs and recreational activities for adults and teens with developmental disabilities. Some activities include Zumba, bowling, yoga, trail walks, cooking, climbing and Crossfit.  Such activities build emotional and intellectual growth, as well as physical health.  The Center serves 190 clients.  http://www.maxhigbee.org  

 

Alona Christman from the Mount Baker Theatre talked about how our grant money will provide scholarships to low-income classrooms for the kids to attend educational theater events at MBT. 

 

Erica Burke from South Whatcom Fire Authority says our grant money will support their child car seat program.  

 

Trudy Shuravlov is director of the Whatcom Dream, which provides programs assisting people who come from generational poverty, teaching them a different way to live and present themselves to break the cycle of poverty.  Our grant money will raise awareness about their “role playing” event, Poverty Simulation, which will take place April 19 and 20th, 6-9pm. https://thewhatcomdream.org  

 

Mark Moder (Exec. Director) and Erin Malone are from Whatcom Center for Early Learning, which works with toddlers with developmental disabilities or developmental delays.  In recent years they have doubled the number of children they serve. Money will go to buy and/or build switch-adapted toys (toys that are modified to allow individuals with disabilities the opportunity to play and learn as independently as possible). http://www.wcel.net  

 

Addie Candib and Moonwater from Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center: WDRC provides collaborative solutions to conflict.  The BBRC grant money will go to improvements to their Supervised Visitation Program:  Our BBRC grant money will go to remodeling meeting spaces at a local church, with whom WDRC is partnering on this project.  They will be replacing windows in the rooms in the church annex where supervised family visits happen.  These rooms provide a safe space for children and adults to connect in “supervised space” when court orders only supervised contact. https://www.whatcomdrc.org

 

Respectfully submitted,

Stowe Talbot