President-elect Jeff Wells (standing top left) and President Laurie Harrison (standing second from right) helped honor representatives from 12 nonprofits awarded club grants at the April 18 club luncheon.
In April 2023, the Rotary Club of Norfolk awarded a total of $25,000 in grants to 12 area nonprofits. Funding came from Norfolk Rotary Charities, the club's charitable affiliate. Grant recipients in the Class of '23 are:
- Armed Forces YMCA, which provides childcare and other services for military families. The grant will support a program that helps military children gain coping skills and connect with other children whose parents also are deployed.
- Barnett-Searing National Cancer Foundation, which provides comfort kits for people undergoing cancer treatment. The grant will pay for Smile Kits for area residents.
- Circle A Home for Horses, which rescues slaughter-house bound horses and gives them new life as part of area programs helping children of all abilities gain confidence. The grant will support a summer camp program.
- EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic Riding Program, which connects up to 120 people a week with horses for therapy. Participants include children and adults with special abilities as well as veterans, first responders and military personnel. The grant will support the riding program.
- Hope House Foundation, which provides homes and supportive services for area adults living with disabilities. The grant will help enhance services.
- Maury High School PTA, which supports students at the oldest public high school in Virginia. The grant will provide toiletries, hygiene kits, clothing and other items needed to help Norfolk students experiencing homelessness stay in school and graduate.
- Mercy Medical Angels, is based in the region and is the country's largest provider of free transportation for medical care. The grant will help Norfolk residents with gas cards, bus tickets or plane rides needed to get to treatments.
- Sail Nauticus Foundation, provides sailing instructions for Norfolk residents. The grant will support a program for middle school students that teaches them swim and be safe in water and gain educational skills while also learning to sail boats.
- Salvation Army Hampton Roads Area Command, provides an array of services for area residents. This grant will support the 19th Street Shelter in Norfolk as it provides meals, laundry facilities, transportation and housing for adults experiencing homelessness.
- Special Olympics of Chesapeake, which provides year-round sports opportunities for area children and adults living with disabilities. The grant will help start a swimming program.
- The UP Center, which has 21 programs to help area families with services that include mental health counseling, parenting education and support, youth mentoring, foster care and adoption, housing and financial counseling, and services for people with disabilities. The grant will help families with travel vouchers.
- YELLOW, which operates the YellowHab school providing free education for Norfolk students from lower-income neighborhoods. The grant will support the educational program for grades 1 through 6.