‘Just phenomenal’
Amy Billings, left, and Rebecca Hollway with Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho stand after receiving a $1,000 grant from The Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club and The Coeur d’Alene Rotary Foundation at The Coeur d'Alene Resort on Friday.
BILL BULEY/Press
Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club members join grant recipients outside The Coeur d'Alene Resort on Friday. The Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club and The Coeur d’Alene Rotary Foundation presented $30,000 in grants to 21 organizations.
Emily Moses of The Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club recognizes grant recipients during a program at The Coeur d'Alene Resort on Friday.
COEUR d’ALENE — One of the biggest challenges faced by the Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club when presenting grants is deciding who gets them.
"The nonprofits that we have in this community, as you all know, are just phenomenal," said Rotarian Emily Moses. "Everyone really genuinely cares with a passion [that] I think is quite unique to Coeur d'Alene."
As tough a task as it was, the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club in conjunction with the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Foundation on Friday recognized 21 local organizations with $30,000 in community service and youth grants from the Rotary Club’s Foundation.
About 100 people attended the luncheon at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
“The need is greater than ever in our community, especially given so many economic uncertainties,” said Rotary Club President Candace Godwin. “Our rose sale last fall, followed by Coeur d’Irish in March, helped us generate proceeds to fund such needed community projects.”
Grants ranged from $250 to $4,000.
Habitat for Humanity of North Idaho received $1,000, which pleased Amy Billings, family navigator.
She said Habitat will be able to provide additional down payment assistance for clients.
"It's super exciting because it means we can further our mission and help more members of our community," she said.
Coeur d'Alene VFW 889 Auxiliary also received $1,000.
"We'll help more veterans and help the new Post Falls Veterans Home," said Lynda Wood, auxiliary treasurer.
Local Community Service Grants totaling $15,000:
Tesh Inc., $3,050; CDAIDE, $2,000; Literacy Project of North Idaho, $1,400; Museum of North Idaho, $1,300; Habitat for Humanity, $1,000; Post Falls Senior Center, $1,000; VFW 889 Auxiliary, $1,000; TAILS Foundation, $1,000; CDA Summer Theater, $500; CDA Symphony Orchestra, $500; Connect Kootenai: $500; Special Forces Association Chapter XLIII, $500; St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, Veterans Program: $500; Turkeys and More: $500, Civic Engagement Alliance, $250.
Youth Grants totaling $15,000:
The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center, Third Grade swim program, $4,000; Growing the STEM, $3,000; Juvenile Justice Outreach, $3,000; Safe Start SIDS: $2,271; Kootenai Kares: $1,800; Ramsey Magnet School of Science, $929.
Moses said Rotarians worked hard to raise money and were proud to assist so many.
"I can't think of a better return to Rotary than giving away money," she said.
