Rotary Makes Grants
Both Near and Far

The board of directors of the Randolph Rotary Club last week showed why the Club’s motto is "Service Above Self."

The board approved more than $4000 in grants to local and international charities, while finalizing plans for the annual fund-raising dinner/raffle that raises more than $5500 for scholarships.

Club President Marybeth Tevis announced the various grants at Thursday’s noon meeting of the Club at the Three Stallion Inn.

The scholarship program is Rotary’s biggest contribution every year. Many of the funds are raised by a dinner and a raffle that offers a $2500 prize.

This year’s dinner, organized again by Jack Cowdrey, was held Saturday night at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Barre. Grand winner of the $2500 was Emil Fredette, who attended with his wife Susan.

In all, Rotary donates some $7000 for scholarships in the high school and $2000 for scholarships for RTCC graduates.

Tevis also announced the following grants from Randolph Rotary, which has a membership of about 50 men and women:

• $1000 for a water project in Tanzania that will be merged with funds from three other clubs and a match from the Rotary District, so that the water project would benefit to the tune of $8000.

• $1000 for the Clara Martin Center’s summer programs.

• $300 for Randolph Youth Baseball and softball;

• $1000 to help the Randolph Elementary School Destination Imagination Teams attend the national finals.

• Up to $1000 for the Vermont Pneumococcal Vaccination Plan to help innoculate VT senior citizens, based on $20 per Randolph area innoculation.

Another demonstration of service came when "Paul Harris" awards were presented to three club members, showing that each had donated $1000 to Rotary Foundation, an arm of Rotary International. The money is spent in a wide array of programs in the developing world, often matching other grants from local clubs.

Receiving the awards were Jim Kennedy and Arni and Cil Spahn. All of them had multiple Paul Harris awards, reflecting more than $10,000 of total giving to the Foundation.