Isbell Middle School Marching Band will have new uniforms and instruments, a grant that Santa Paula Elementary School District Superintendent Paul Chounet said “is invaluable,” due to deep cuts to arts programs that so benefit students in all their studies. Blanchard Elementary School also gained funding for chorus risers and cafeteria seating needs.
The Hertel Computer Center at Santa Paula High School - established in memory of the late Wes Hertel, a Rotarian devoted to youth education - benefited with a grant, as did the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, which received a grant to help pay for a new van. The Rotary gift, said Club CEO Jan Marholin, provided the match to secure the van “to take more kids more places.”
Kathy Kemp, representing Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group, said the donation to the equipment loan program would help the nonprofit fill more needs. In 2009, there were 400 requests to borrow equipment needed by those with life-threatening illnesses, a number, said Kemp, that last year increased to 1,100.
The club, said Stone, “works very hard each year to be able to give away these funds.... This club really demonstrates the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’ by all those hours of schlepping around and working hard at the annual Pumpkin Patch.”
Breitag said the club received 29 grant applications totaling more than $150,000. Although not all grants could be funded, “It was nice to be able to hand out this $60,000 at one crack,” as well as the previous gift of $30,000 to organizations that provided help at the Pumpkin Patch.
Rotarian Ginger Gherardi said the club also awarded three $1,500 grants to organizations that met the benchmark of Executive Committee giving. So the total given to the community resulting from Pumpkin Patch revenue, Gherardi noted, was $94,500.
