December 11, 2007                                  (231) 941-4010

                                                                   msmith@rotarycharities.org

Rotary Charities Grant Awards Announced

 

Traverse City, Mich. – Don Fraser, Chairman of Rotary Charities of Traverse City, announced $582,500 in grant awards today at the Traverse City Rotary Club.  Grants were given in 3 categories: Capital; Organizational Capacity and Planning.

Capital Grants totaled $400,000 and went to:

Father Fred Foundation, $300,000 for renovation of the warehouse, distribution facilities and client service area  and

                        Grand Traverse County Parks & Recreation Department, $100,000 to create a universally accessible waterfront and recreational facility at Twin Lakes Park .

Organizational Capacity Building Grants totaled $150,000.  Each of the following 7 nonprofits received grant funds for a second year to help with specific activities that will improve their ability to deliver their services, meet their mission and become more financially stable.

                        Boys & Girls Club $35,000

                        Community Reconciliation Services  $10,300

                        Grass River Natural Area  $10,000

                        HomeStretch  $32,700

                        NW Michigan Human Services  $22,000

                        Third Level Crisis Center  $20,000

                        Traverse Symphony Orchestra  $20,000

Seven Planning Grants totaling $32,500 have been awarded since June 2007.  These smaller grants are awarded throughout the year and are designed to help nonprofits with organizational assessments, strategic plans, feasibility studies, needs assessment and other planning activities.  Grants were awarded to:

                        Addiction Treatment Services $5,000

                        Michigan Land Use Institute $5,000

                        Big Brothers & Big Sisters, $5,000

                        Land Information Access Association $5,000

                        Suttons Bay-Bingham Township $2,500

                        Inland Seas Education Association $5,000

                        NorthSky for the Commission on Youth $5,000

The deadline for applications for Charities’ next grants cycle is March 1, 2008, and includes all grant requests of less than $100,000. Planning Grant requests for $5,000 and less are accepted on an ongoing basis. Potential grant applicants can check Charities’ web site (www.rotarycharities.org) for further information and forms, or contact the Rotary Charities office at 231.941.4010.

ABOUT ROTARY CHARITIES

Since its inception in 1977, Rotary Charities has distributed more than $37 million in the form of more than 600 grants to organizations and non-profits in Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Kalkaska and Antrim counties. The public foundation was formed following the discovery in July of 1976 of valuable oil and natural gas reserves on property owned by the Traverse City Rotary Club. Its purpose over the years has been to distribute interest income generated from the oil and gas royalties to organizations throughout the five-county region of Northwest Michigan . More information is available at www.rotarycharities.org.