Rotary awards community service grants

The Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse distributed $14,000 in grants to a dozen local organizations at its meeting today at the Hilton Garden Inn.

John Searles, chairman of the Club’s Community Service Committee, announced the recipients of this year’s annual grants and presented each of the 12 organizations with a check.

Recipients were chosen by the committee from among 29 applicants based on the committee’s mission to support local organizations and programs that focus on child development, especially those with a relevance to environmental issues.

This year’s recipients include Y.O.U., Total Child Preschool & Childcare Center, Kingsley Elementary School PTA, The Talking Farm, The Shanti Foundation for Peace, Puerta Abierta Preschool, Evanston Community Foundation, Evanston Public Library, Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Reba Early Learning Center, Evanston Arts Center, and the McGaw YMCA.

After presenting the checks, which ranged from $500 to $2,000, Searles requested that each organization provide the Club with periodic reports throughout the year on the progress of its programs.

Funding for the Community Service awards come from the Club’s various fund raising events during the year, including its primary fundraiser, the annual Holiday Sale of flowers, fruits and hams during the holiday season.

The Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse meets every Tuesday morning at 7:15 a.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1818 Maple Ave.