Playa Venice’s normal Wednesday meeting was canceled in favor of a joint gathering on with the LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee and local school principals to present this year’s Teacher Mini Grants Awards. They met at Playa Vista's Center Pointe Club and were hosted to a delicious breakfast by Playa Vista’s SibylBuchanan. Gwen Vuchsas opened the meeting with a short history of the Grants, which is a program she modeled based on one similar at the Alhambra Rotary Club. Grants of up to $200 to individual teachers or $400 for two or more teachers, were given to the highest rated applications as judged by five or more readers, until the funds ran out. She started in the 1993 by giving out $1800. Through dedication and a passion for education the program has grown significantly since. Funding comes from Playa Venice and sponsors who have a like passion for education and giving back to the community. The Los Angeles Commercial Realtor Association (LACRA,) Equity Offices, Howard Hughes Center, Superbtech, Inc, Rotary District 5280, The Jim Bunch Memorial Fund/Travelodge, Donna Lassman, Howard Pollack and Westchester Rotary were just some of this year's supporters. Last year a new feature was added, asking teachers what would be on their "wish list" for needed supplies. Actual donated supplies by LACRA members and Rotarians were distributed to eight schools who submitted lists. More schools got the hint this year with fourteen schools writing up their wishes. LACRA members made cash donations at their holiday party totaling $1600 which allowed Gwen and Gail Goldstein to go on a post holiday shopping spree at Office Depot (who also helped out with discounts.) These were added to actual supplies donated from a wide variety of sources and our membership. The boxes were handed out with the Grants.

This year there were 142 applications submitted, with the top 84 being funded at twenty schools for a total of $19,375. Among the presenters were District Governor Lew Bertrand and good friend of Playa Venice, Senior Assistant District Governor, Linda Black from Culver City. What impact have these grants had? One barometer was young professionals who have come into the local workforce having been the recipients of Grants during their school years, like the Chamber of Commerce’s own Rachel Horning. Another might be when the daughter of a former grant winner, wins for the same school where her mom Lynn Allen taught, like Lindsay Allen. This year the program touched 4,077 students for an average cost per student of $4.84. If a purchase can be used for more than one year, the number of students goes up and the cost per student goes down. That doesn’t even take into account the fourteen boxes of supplies distributed. Dollars go a long way in the Teacher Mini Grant program! Each principal, without fail, registered their deep appreciation for what the Club and their supporters accomplish. Many hands lighten the load.

Although the meeting ran a little longer than scheduled, those principals who could were great sports about hanging in until the end to have their photo taken with Governor Lew. Principals, supporters, organizers, Rotarians and presenters all have the Club’s extreme gratitude for making a day chocked full of "Rotary moments."