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Park Board honors Rotary clubs of Springfield

All the Rotary Clubs of Springfield were honored on Friday, June 10, 2022, at the Springfield - Greene County Park Board meeting for their numerous contributions to the community through the Park Board over the years. The Board acknowledged the clubs’ contributions to Jordan Valley Park through projects such as K-man, the shades, the rock climbing structure, the wagon, and peace pole.

Rotary sponsored projects at Miracle Field were also highlighted, as well as scholarships provided to kids for parks activities through Rotary donations.
Chairman of the Board Sidney Needem and Director Bob Belote recognized all clubs with plaque presentations. You can watch the recognition of the clubs through this link: https://cityview.springfieldmo.gov/.../boards.../park-board.

(Photo and text provided by Lisa Blumenstock.)

Community Grants, Spring 2022

The Springfield Southeast Rotary Grants Committee recommended -- and the board approved -- five grants to community organizations this spring.  This is the second round of Community grants in this Rotary year.   The funds come from members' dues.

The grants go to: 
  • The Victim Center ---- $1,000 for tablets and protective covers for three of its five child therapist positions;
  • Ujima Language & Literacy ---- $1,000 to coordinate parent training and to make sure 25 families are in attendance;
  • Foster Adopt Connect ---- $1,000 for Youth Project Transportation Needs;
  • History Museum of the Ozarks ---- $1,000 for its Meet Missouri Interactive Program; and
  • Mercy Health Foundation ---- $1,000 for a special set of goggles that lets children watch movies during procedures in which they must remain still.

Community Grants, Fall 2021

Springfield Southeast Rotary Club awarded $5,000 in Community Grants. The club budgets $10,000 each program year from club dues to help local nonprofit organizations, which apply for the grants. The Community Grants Committee recommends to the board the grant selections.

Here is the breakdown of the awards for this fall:
-- $1,000 Big Brothers Big Sisters - half the cost of a bin to be placed in a public area to collect shoes and clothing to be distributed locally and to third world countries.
-- $1,000 Discovery Center of Springfield - to purchase a new museum computer for their front desk.
-- $1,000 Diaper Bank of the Ozarks - to purchase receptacles for diapers collected through a Diaper Drive.
-- $1,000 The Kitchen - to purchase bus passes for clients in programs at risk of experiencing homelessness.
-- $1,000 The Drew Lewis Foundation - to help upgrade and maintain the playground (pictured) at The Fairbanks. The club helped purchase the playground equipment a few years ago.

Steve Brooks chairs the Community Grants Committee this year. The next round of grants will be awarded in the spring.
Fairbanks playgound 1
Fairbanks playgound 2

Community Grants criteria

The community grants committee of the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast is charged with the responsibility of recommending to the board of directors those charitable contributions made in the club’s name for the Rotary year. (Rotary years begin July 1 and end June 30.) The funds for the year are generated from the service fund assessment.

Organizations are welcome to apply for a community grant; however, all applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:

CHARITABLE. Grants must be used for a charitable purpose by a 501(c)3 organization.

LOCAL. Grants must used within southwest Missouri.

COMMUNITY BENEFIT. Proposals must specify a community benefit. Requests for funds for general operating expenses are discouraged.

RECOGNITION. Proposals must specify how the contribution will be acknowledged in a way that promotes community awareness of the Rotary Club of Springfield Southeast.

Springfield Southeast wishes to utilize community grants to achieve the greatest possible impact across a broad range of projects each year. To do this, we award grants ranging from $500 to $1,000+.

Every year, Springfield Southeast determines its scope of grant interest based on Rotary International’s goals and club goals. Usually, grants are focused on literacy, hunger, and health; however, occasionally, other areas are considered.

Community Grants application process

Applications for grants are reviewed by our community grants committee. Requests for funds come from Southeast member suggestions, mail solicitations, personal solicitations from community organizations, and ideas generated by committee members.

There are two grant cycles every Rotary year, and organizations are encouraged to submit their proposals any time throughout the year to be considered for the next review cycle on the calendar.

The grant process includes two steps:
1) A review of the proposal by the committee
2) An in-person presentation (approximately 10 minutes) by the applying organization to the committee.

After presentations, the committee reviews the proposals and makes a recommendation to the board of directors. After the board of directors approves the grants, the committee notifies applicants.

SUBMISSIONS
Submit your proposal by email as an attachment, as well as proof of your 501(c)3 status, to info@springfieldsoutheastrotary.org.

Community Grants proposal form

PDF

Download "SER-Grant-Proposal-Form.pdf"