Eight projects of seven Rotary clubs were awarded District Simplified Grants [DSG] for 2010-2011 at the District Foundation Banquet recently. Grant funds will be used for educational initiatives, public health, and civic projects throughout District 7680.

Eleven Rotary clubs throughout District 7680 submitted requests totaling $38,077.66 for 12 projects, but only $28,881 was available this year. For that reason, the major criterion for awarding grants was per capita club giving to The Rotary Foundation. Only clubs giving about $100 per capita were deemed eligible.

“Since DSG funds come through The Rotary Foundation from local clubs in our district, the committee felt strongly that clubs supporting TRF at the requested per capita level should have priority,” stated Joe Morris, District Foundation chair. Projects that gave visibility to Rotary were also given greater consideration.

This year’s judges were District Governor Firoz Peera, District Governor-Elect Allen Langley, Past District Governor and District Foundation chair Joe Morris, Assistant Governor for Area 7 Steve Padgett, and DSG Chair Barbara Voorhees.

Clubs, project titles and funding follows below:

Ballantyne – SMART Technology In Schools Challenge - $5,000
Charlotte Top-of-the-Week – Charlotte Community Health Clinic Pediatric - $2,740.66
Charlotte Top-of-the-Week – Irwin Avenue Open Elementary SMARTBoard - $2,500
Gastonia – Gastonia Police Memorial Park - $5,000
Statesville Fourth Creek – Greening the Curriculum at Third Creek Elementary - $2,000
Top of the Lake Mooresville – Community Garden - $3,000
Union West – The Rotary Bandstand and Crossing Paths Park - $7,500
Waxhaw-Weddington-Sunrise – Museum of the Waxhaws, Community Children’s Project - $1,140.34

Clubs awarded DSG funds must sign an agreement form that they will use the funds as intended or notify the DSG chair if projects cannot be completed as anticipated. They must also file interim and final reports to The Rotary Foundation.

Applications for 2011-2012 District Simplified Grants will be on the district website and available to clubs after July 1, 2011. The deadline for submission will be Friday, September 30, 2011. They should be sent to DSG chair Barbara Voorhees, 1112 Woodvale Avenue, Gastonia, NC 28054. Once again, clubs with a $100 per capita giving level to the Foundation will receive preference in receiving grants.

by Barbara Voorhees

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