Rotary seeking Community Grants applicants for early 2012: Program awarded $26,000 last year

SEBASTOPOL – It’s fitting during the season of giving and
receiving that the Rotary Club of Sebastopol is again announcing
the opening of applications for its Community Grants
applications.
Grant requests are accepted each year from local organizations and
individuals for a wide variety of community, charity and
humanitarian projects. Individuals and organizations seeking
revenue for a community project or greater need are invited to
apply for a Sebastopol Rotary Club Community Project Grant between
now and mid-January 2012.
Award announcements will be made by March, 2012.
While grant requests for any purpose will be considered, preference
is generally given to those requests that have a Sebastopol and
western Sonoma County focus. The application criteria stresses a
long-term impact, an overall community impact, and a lack of
alternative funding.
There are two local Rotary clubs in Sebastopol and both are part of
Rotary International which has a total worldwide membership of 1.2
million men and women. There are over 33,000 local clubs in over
200 countries. Membership is open to business owners, executives
and professionals. Individuals interested in local Rotary
membership should contact Rotarian Harry Polley, membership chair
of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol (telephone 823-4848) or visit
sebastopolrotary.org.
Sebastopol Rotary received 29 Community Project Service Grant
applications in the spring of 2010 and awarded a total of $26,000
to 16 non-profits, according to Sebastopol Rotarian Dorothy
Rodella.
Previous year’s grants were awarded to help pay for playground
equipment at Ives Park; a drinking fountain and Rotary plaque at
Sebastopol’s new Skate Park and Community Garden; a new pool cover
roller at the city swimming pool; Music in the Schools program;
database software for Restorative Resources; Palm Drive Hospital
emergency room equipment; a reading lab kit for special education
students; Project Graduation; and the replacement of arson damaged
soccer equipment, according to the Rotary’s website.
“The Sebastopol Rotary Club recently completed its annual lobster
feed and we raised $110,000 that goes to fund our Community
Projects Grant and other projects. We really give back to the
community, both locally and internationally,” Rodella said, noting
she has been a Rotarian for 16 years because “it’s an opportunity
to serve.”
Grant applications are available online at
www.sebastopolrotary.org. To be considered, applications must be
postmarked on or before Jan. 17, 2012 and mailed to Community
Service Grants Committee, Sebastopol Rotary Club, P.O. Box 213,
Sebastopol, CA., 95473.
They can also be hand-delivered to Rodella at the Exchange Bank,
720 North Gravenstein Hwy.
For more information call Rodella at 823-4087 or go to
www.sebastopolrotary.org.