Applications being accepted until end of November

Published in the Oct. 2-15, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life

By Staff Report

The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill is seeking applications for $15,000 in community grants to help local organizations fund local philanthropic projects or programs.

Previous grants from the club have supported more than 30 philanthropic organizations.
According to Rotarian Rosy Bergin, chair of the community grants, “We reach out to help with projects that simply need to be done when there are no other funds available.”

Grant guidelines and applications, which are due Nov. 30, are available at www.morganhillrotary.com.

In general, requests should focus on projects or programs that benefit youth, seniors, education or community benefit in the Morgan Hill or San Martin area. Awards usually range from $250 to $1,000. Organizations are not required to be designated nonprofits, but their project must have a specific community benefit.

Last year, the Rotary Club of Morgan Hill gave community grants to: Charter School of Morgan Hill for the Science Alive! Program; Community Law Enforcement Foundation to help purchase fingerprint cards for children; Community Solutions for new play therapy toys and supplies; El Toro Elementary School to help purchase 40 stools for the new Science Lab; El Toro Elementary and P.A. Walsh Elementary schools to purchase woodwind musical recorders for all 5th and 6th grade students; Learning and Loving Education Center to provide computer and literacy education to more than 200 low-income, immigrant women; Martha’s Kitchen to purchase supplies to support the hot meal program for seniors, homeless and low-income families; Morgan Hill Historical Society to help fund the kitchen renovation at the Hiram Morgan Hill House; Morgan Hill Recreation Preschool to purchase a permanent, child-sized picnic table in the playground at the Morgan Hill Community & Cultural Center; P.A. Walsh Elementary Home & School Club to help fund a school fruit and vegetable garden for each K-6 grade; San Martin 4-H Beef Project and Sheep Project to purchase two portable animal scales to monitor healthy weight gain; St. Catherine School to purchase a bicycle rack; Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center to purchase materials to repair their two largest raptor enclosures

Because Rotary Club of Morgan Hill has a separate scholarship program for college-bound seniors, similar scholarships grants will not be considered.

The Rotary Club of Morgan Hill, recipient of the Rotary International Presidential Citation for distinguished service, has served the Morgan Hill community for almost 60 years. Rotary is a worldwide organization that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.