Each year, the Newton Rotary Club awards grants to non-profit organizations serving the Newton community.
At the club’s luncheon on August 1st, Newton’s elite non-profit representatives and Newton Rotary members gathered for the annual awards ceremony – one of the most anticipated and fun meetings of the year, as everyone gets to greet and interact with the people who are responsible for so much good work in our community.
With arms wide, Grants Committee Chairman Paul Sullivan and President Liz Tavares greeted the ensemble at the Scandinavian Living Center in West Newton. It was pointed out many times during the hour that although Newton is perceived to be an affluent suburb, there are thousands of families who need help to make life in the Garden City easier to manage. Forging supporting partnerships with these organizations is a key part of accomplishing Newton Rotary’s mission.
The Rotary Club of Newton handed out checks to a dozen different non-profits to support current projects that directly benefit deserving families and kids in the community. The list includes Rotary’s long-term partners such as Family Access, Springwell, The West Suburban YMCA, The Newton Boys and Girls Club, Second Step, Newton Community Development Foundation, and Newton At Home. Several new [to Rotary] names received support, such as One Love Foundation, Newton Police Department’s Cops and Kids camp, the Scandinavian Living Center, Fig City News, and the Leonard Zakim Center at Dana Farber.
Awards ranged from $500 to $2500, and each one is funding an incremental service, or subsidizing additional participants in existing programs. Representatives from all the organizations each got up to tell about their overall mission and how the grant money will be used. It was a very inspiring session as it became obvious that so much good was being accomplished in so many different ways. The money for the grants was raised by The Newton Rotary Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization, throughout the year from a variety of sponsors and fundraising events.
Rotary President Liz Tavares said of the grants “We are fortunate to live in a community that has the commitment of folks that work tirelessly to bring needed service to our city. This event showcased these providers. We are grateful for the work they do. Our goal as Rotarians is to sustain this partnerships and provide assistance to them.”
There were organizations who have worked with Rotary for many years, and a number whom Rotary has just met, but all thoroughly enjoyed the day – and universally shared the Rotarian motto of “Service Above Self.”
Slideshow of event:
Andy Willinger is Treasurer and past President (2022-2023) of the Rotary Club of Newton.
Rotary’s grant to Fig City News is helping to support the Fig City News high school summer interns.
