Our club was proud to host the 2023 Rotarian Foundation of Livermore Grant Awards at our April 25th meeting. Almost $200,000 was awarded by the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore to 29 community organizations. President Kevin McCallum welcomed RFL President Mary Anne Rozsa and Club Member Bassant Abdelrahman, RFL Grant Co-Chair, to lead the special program.
Since 2000, the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore (RFL) has distributed grants up to $5,000 to local nonprofits and schools. This year, thanks to a generous bequest by Dr. Martin Plone, RFL was able to award more than twice what they awarded in 2022, and was able to offer awards as high as $15,000 to meet the needs of community organizations.
Grant Co-Chair Bassant Abdelrahman led a committee of Rotarians from both Livermore clubs - the Rotary Club of Livermore Valley and the Rotary Club of Livermore - in the review of 43 applications requesting over $320,000. “This year’s requests were the most the Foundation has ever received,” said Abdelrahman. “We are proud to be recognized by our community as an organization that serves, and we hope to be able to extend our support even further in future years.”
“As Rotarians, we are honored to fulfill our mission of providing financial support to organizations whose services benefit the diverse residents of the Livermore Valley,” said Mary Anne Rozsa, President of the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore. Awards benefited groups that support youth, cultural diversity, education, veterans, cancer patients, residents experiencing housing insecurity, residents experiencing trauma, and individuals with disabilities, among others.
Funding for the grant program is generated through community donations, Rotary fundraisers, successful investments by the Foundation, and distributions from the two local Rotary Clubs. A partnership with the Livermore Valley Education Foundation (LVEF) adds to the funds available by sharing funding to the awards to LVJUSD schools. Applications for the grants are due each December, with the recipients announced the following April.
Grants of $10,000 or more were awarded to the following organizations, listed alphabetically:
- Avance - Helping the developmentally disabled thrive
- Hope Hospice - Support for families living with dementia
- LARPD Foundation - Community support providing scholarships for access to programs
- Livermore Girls Softball Association - Upgrades to Junction Avenue fields
- Livermore High School Music - Enclosed utility trailer for LHS Instrumental Music Program
- Livermore Valley Arts - Cultural Celebration Series
- Quest Science Center - Engineering Everywhere: A Playbook for Family Science Learning
- Robot Garden - Laser cutter to support STEAM for Youth
- Spectrum Community Services - Spectrum Connect
- Tri-Valley Haven - Single night hotel vouchers
Grants of less than $10,000 were awarded to the following organizations, listed alphabetically:
- Altamont Creek Elementary School - Early literacy and play-based STEAM exploration
- Ambassadors of Compassion - Middle School RISE Program for Junction Avenue School students
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) Livermore-Pleasanton-Dublin Branch - Tech Trek STEM Summer Camp scholarships for underrepresented girls
- Assistance League of Amador Valley - Operation School Bell clothing for children and foster kids
- Culinary Angels - Welcome packets for new clients
- Down Syndrome Connection - services for Livermore families with a child or adult with Down Syndrome
- Granada Safe & Sober Grad Night - Supporting a safe celebration for the Class of 2023
- Las Positas College Biotech Bootcamp - Summer program for high school students to expand their thinking
- Las Positas College Veterans First Program - 2.2 for 22 Challenge for Veterans
- Livermore High Baseball - Batting cage improvements
- Livermore-Pleasanton Elks Lodge 2117 - Supporting hospitalized Livermore veterans
- LVJUSD Community Children’s Health Access - Providing medical and dental care to low income youth
- Monthly Miracles - Christmas Miracles Event 2023
- Open Heart Kitchen - Senior meal program
- Reins in Motion - New mounting ramp
- Shepherd’s Gate - Bed enhancement project to serve more clients
- Sleep in Heavenly Peace - Beds and bedding so that no kid sleeps on the floor in our town
- Tri-Valley REACH - Outdoor living development project
- Vineyard Alternative School - Fab Lab
Pictured below: Rotarians with grant recipients
Below is the presentation shared at the awards program on April 25: