Mercer Island Rotary has granted over $130,000 to the local and international communities in the year of 2013-2014. By supporting charitable organizations serving local, regional and international needs, Mercer Island Rotary is setting goals to create systemic and enduring changes in the lives of people.
Close to $60,000 was granted to the to the local community, on and off Mercer Island. Grantees include:
• Boys and Girls Club of Mercer Island as part of a 10-year commitment for the PEAK facilities;
• Children’s Institute for Learning Differences to purchase security equipment and projectors for classrooms;
• Mercer Island Youth and Family Services for their Mental Health program and to provide Thanksgiving and holiday dinner gift cards for needy families;
• Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department to support the Adventure Playground and Funtastic Friday programs;
• Team O, to provide funds so two disadvantaged students could participate in the high school orchestra program;
• Scout Troop 647 to make a display case in the USO Lounge at SeaTac Airport;
• Pixie Hill Preschool to proved outdoor learning space for activities in science, art and math, specifically a garden and rain shelter.
• Seattle Shakespeare company for a Wooden O Production of Shakespeare in the Park on Mercer Island;
• Rotary First Harvest to connect farmers, truckers, food banks and volunteers for hunger relief;
• YouthCare’s Orion Center to provide monthly food for homeless youth in Seattle;
• The Sophia Way to purchase security cameras for the safety of women in a homeless shelter.
Over $78,000 in grants for global projects have been distributed through Rotary International, which includes matching grants from other clubs and districts. To name a few:
• SeaVuria to support a Computer Project in Kenya. SeaVuria connects high school students and teachers in Seattle and Vuria, Kenya through the study of science and technology;
• World Bicycle Relief to provide bicycles in rural Africa so healthcare workers, entrepreneurs and farmers can transport heavy loads long distances over rugged terrain;
• Vishal Himalaya Foundation to purchase library books. This foundation, led by Eva and Yogi Agrawal, who are Mercer Island residents as well, works in central India to develop libraries, water harvesting systems, sanitation and clean drinking water;
• Creche Junqueira, to provide basic supplies for needy preschool children in Brazil. This is a program sponsored by Nilton Santos Biazi Junior from Brazil, who is also a past exchange student of the Mercer Island Rotary Club.
Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss to provide training for teachers, therapists, medical teams and families in Vietnam;
• Stove Team International to help establish factories in Latin America to produce safe, affordable, fuel-efficient cookstoves to replace dangerous open cooking fires;
• Summit Seekers Foundation, founded by Mercer Island residents, Ray and Gay Brook, to empower college students to achieve their dreams and live a fulfilling life in developing countries including China and India.
The Rotary Club of Mercer Island is part of Rotary International, an international humanitarian service organization dedicated to friendship, fellowship, and service to others. The Club meets every Tuesday from noon until 1:30 p.m., at the Mercer Island Community and Events Center at 8236 S.E. 24th Street.
For more, visit www.mirotary.com
