Club Awards Grants to 18 Nonprofits
The Rotary Club of Norfolk has awarded $25,250 in grants to 18 area nonprofits to improve live in Norfolk and surrounding cities. Grants were provided by Norfolk Rotary Charities, the club's charitable affiliate. Nearly 60 nonprofits responded to a call for grant proposals. Funding for the 18 organizations awarded grants came from club members' gifts to the Norfolk Rotary Charities endowment and their weekly "congratulations and fines" payments. Grants ranged in size from $1,000 to $2,000.
Grant recipients for 2015 include:
- Autism Society of Tidewater for workshops for a pilot program to teach first responders and autistic citizens to have positive interactions.
- Barrett Haven Transitional Home for a computer to help area homeless women and single pregnant women train for employment.
- Children's Harbor for math and science supplies for four early childhood centers in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Sufolk.
- Crispus Attucks Cultural Center for dance attire for underserved youth in the RISE arts program.
- D'Art Center for lighting for a new classroom at the Norfolk visual arts center.
- Eastern Virginia Medical School for a computer for the HOPES Clinic for uninsured Norfolk residents needing medical care.
- Edmarc Hospice for supplies for area children in hospice care and their families in support groups.
- Eggleston Services for benches for disabled workers to use while waiting for rides home from work at the Norfolk center.
- Friends of Norfolk's Environment for plants and supplies to restore wetlands along Colley Avenue in Norfolk.
- Governors School for the Arts for a marimba for the instrumental music department for area public school students.
- Horizons Hampton Roads for cameras for low-income public school students in a summer enrichment program that includes photography studies.
- William A. Hunton YMCA for tables and chairs for programs for low-income children, adults and senior citizens living in public housing.
- Gen. Douglas MacArthur Foundation to refurbish and stock a traveling history footlocker that helps in teaching area students and citizens.
- Mosaic Steel Orchestra for instruments to train low-income students from Norfolk and area cities to play music.
- Park Place School for computers and a reading program for low-income Norfolk elementary students who struggle in public school.
- Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing for fishing equipment for a therapeutic program for area wounded soldiers and military veterans.
- Primeplus Norfolk Senior Center for a sink and cabinets in a classroom used for programs for older adults.
- Virginia Supportive Housing to furnish an efficiency apartment for a formerly homeless Norfolk person moving into Crescent Square in Virginia Beach