Rotary Mini Grant Awards
by Lorine Parks
Past president Diane Davis has found a way for our club to be even more generous toward Downey organizations that help children, and need every little bit of help they can get. Our program featured the presentation of Mini Awards, $250 each for the top ten of the seventeen agencies that answered our call for applications.
Our Downey Rotary Club put up $700 and the District replied with $1800, making $2,500. Diane showed how a little can go a long way. First the Downey Symphony was called, and this reporter accepted, explaining how our Music in the Schools program needs three ingredients to give the gift of music to the school children in Downey.
First, we need music and we have that with our symphony musicians and the program written for them by our late conductor and musical director, Tom Osborn. Second, the Symphony needs the schools, and retired Superintendant Dr. Wendy Doty provided that by devising the way for the music to come into the schools, with the quintet that visits each elementary school in Downey every year.
Thirdly, the program needs money, it has to be financed. And this Rotary award will go with the contributions and donations and matching grant programs that all go to make the Music in the Schools Program a success.
Next recipient of $250 was a Downey Girl Scout troop, and Mariah Montero, Jorge’s daughter, accepted for her troop, explaining this would go toward projects the girls have wanted to accomplish.
Our honorary member Darryl Jackson accepted for the 10-20 program for youth at risk, which he directs. He said he knows a young man in Compton who was shot in gang activity but who has now completed a youth academy and is in his second semester in Compton City College, where he plays first base for their team. Juan will use the money to help pay for his education.
Sussman Middle School, named for our former member and former Superintendant of Schools Ed Sussman, applied for funds for their literary project. A teacher there of sixteen years has a classroom collection of inspirational biographies which he wants to update with some video books.Rancho Los Amigos Hospital helps kids participate in the Don Knabe program for art. They need canvases to paint on, and so many dollars have been cut from their program they can’t afford them. Last year they had ten children enter the County Art Show, and their talent is outstanding.
Gina, the vice principal at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, will use the grant for a chess program to teach logic. And Rosie at Human Resource Services has a program for senior citizens that needs gardening supplies. Darren Dunaway informed her of the grant opportunity, and she will use the $250 to buy seeds and dirt.
Boy Scout Troop 2, the oldest Boy Scout Troop in Downey, founded 90 years ago, will use their $250 for camping equipment. OLPH’s Serge Aguilar needs $250 for buying worm compost for a science class. Gauldin Elementary School will buy shade umbrellas for their lunch area tables.
It’s wonderful to see how far $2500 can go, when you break it into multiples of $250. There is also a wish list by the other candidates who are also worthy, if any Rotarian wants to help out personally. When it came to the traditional book for the Downey Library Children’s room, all the winning establishments signed it.
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