Community GrantsThe charitable needs of our community are great and every quarter the Rotary Club of Fort Collins will distribute Community Grants sponsored by our membership to very deserving non-profit service organizations in the local Fort Collins area. The Rotary Club of Fort Collins Community Grants Committee looks for innovative projects and services that respond to community issues, address local needs, are available to the community as a whole or large segment in need, and will improve community members lives. The Rotary Club of Fort Collins Community Grants Committee will review all Grant applications.

 

Education Programs Grants Press Release -July, 2023

Community Grants Awards
 Our community grants committee recently awarded a $3,000 youth program grant to the Food Bank for Larimer County to purchase snack items for their mobile food truck.  As part of this grant award, we were able to volunteer by helping to provide meals and snacks at recent locations for the Food Bank’s mobile food truck.  Thanks Rotarians for making a difference in our community!
Our Community Grants Committee recently awarded $3,000 to the Gary Bamford Pack Pantry.  The students at Bamford elementary researched the needs of the people in their area. They will use our grant to help purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and poultry, and new sock & underwear. This pantry serves Poudre School District families in Southeast Fort Collins.  The pantry is open to families in the Bamford area or anyone in the greater community area that has a need.
Community Grants recently awarded a youth program grant to the Food Bank for Larimer County.  They will use our grant to provide snacks to every child who visits their mobile Lunch Lab meal program this summer.  This take-home snack will be a supplement to the free lunch they eat on site. 
Junior Achievement was awarded $5,000 to support JA’s K-12 financial literacy, entrepreneurship & work readiness programs in Poudre School District in 2023.  An emphasis will be placed on program implementation in schools where the Free &Reduced lunch percentage is 40% or higher.
Colorado Clean Energy Cluster, dba, She’s in Power was awarded an Education program in the amount o9f $4,000.  This grant will support their mentoring program budget to assist with paying mentors who provide training and to provide incentive for program participants. 
The Community Grants committee awarded $1,900 to KRFC-Public Radio for the Front Range under our Arts & Culture program area.  They will use our grant to purchase an upgrade of their Skimmer Computer.  They use this computer to record the station’s on-air programs in support of local music and arts in the Fort Collins community.
ChildSafe Colorado recently received one of our Arts & Culture program grants.  They provide therapy services of survivors of childhood abuse, primarily childhood sexual abuse.  ChildSafe will use our grant of $3,000 to have their elementary and teen groups work with Chris Bates, a local artist, to design & paint a mural on the handicap ramp leading from the parking lot up to their office.
Our Community Grants committee recently awarded a $1,000 grant to SNAAP under our Health and Wellness category.  SNAPP provides empowerment for teens to build relationships and strengthen their sense of self needed to navigate today’s culture and process their lives.  Our grant will support their programs to help vulnerable teens experiencing bulling, depression, anxiety and much more.  They will be able to broaden their outreach to include a more diverse and underserved population. 
The Community grants committee recently awarded a Health and Welfare Program grant to “A Friend for You”.  Our $3,000 grant will help support underserved expectant mothers in Larimer County by providing them with unconditional personalized support through mentoring, tangible services,  and connection to community resources.  They help reduce isolation for low-income and marginalized expectant mothers.  Accepting our check is Lorraine Meyers, Executive Director.
The Community Grants committee recently awarded an Education Program grant to Teaching Tree Early Childhood Learning Center.  They will use our $3,150 grant to purchase Creative Curriculum Extended kits, books to support preschool studies and to provide scholarships for students to participate in yoga classes.   They have 12 classrooms serving children 6 weeks to 5 years old. 
Community Grants committee recently awarded SAVA a grant under our Youth Program category. SAVA will use our $1,250 grant to fund program materials for this summer’s SuperWorld youth program.  SuperWorld is an active, outdoor summer program that empowers youth ages 6-12 to develop necessary life skills for healthy bodies, relationships and self-esteem.
The Community Grants committee recently awarded an Arts and Culture program grant to the Museum of Art Fort Collins. The Museum will use our to support their upcoming group exhibition and programs for “A Culture Preserved (in the Black Experience).   This exhibition addresses black heritage and how it shapes the values, beliefs and aspirations that define peoples’ identity. 
In March, our Community Grants committee awarded $3,000 to the Fort Collins Symphony to support their “Lost in Space” pops concert and specifically the presentations by Dr. Erin Macdonald, an astrophysicist, who serves as a technical science consultant for the Start Trek franchise.
The Community Grants committee in February awarded and Health and Welfare grant to the Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship.  They will use our $2,500 grant to establish a new local Community Center within their building to provide food, showers, laundry, a community closet and support for some of the unhoused people of Fort Collins.   
Community Grants awarded a $2,500  Health and Welfare grant to Larimer Court Supports to fund their new Sober Wellness Project.  This project will help approximately 150 clients in their Problems Solving Courts.  Problem Solving Courts have been shown to be an effective means of reducing substance abuse, managing mental illness, increasing the likelihood of remaining in recovery, and reintegrating into communities as productive and contributing members.  PSC also reduces jail and prison costs.
The Community Grants Committee reviewed and selected agencies to receive funding under the Health and Wellness Category.  On Wednesday, January 12th, the Fort Collins Audubon Society accepted our $1,600 grant to publish 500 copies of their mindful birding booklet.  This will be used by patients at the UC Harmony Cancer Center  Patients will practice mindfulness while they connect with nature through birding.  Accepting the award is Barbara Patterson.
Northern Colorado Wildlife Center was recently awarded a $1,000 community grant under our education program cycle.  They will use this grant to provide free family-friendly wildlife education classes to teach FC residents how to safely intervene when they find wildlife in distress or are experiencing a human-wildlife conflict on their property. Tallon Nightwalker, executive Director is accepting the check from Steve Schaefer.