The van, Valdes noted, was purchased and outfitted by committee. “Poor John Macik, he was so patient and super gracious” through the long and often committee mind-changing process. Also gracious is Huddy, who “sometimes get tips” that Valdes said he donates to SCVH/HSG.Barringer told Rotarians, “Hospice thanks you all... this is wonderful!”The Rotary Club Benefit Fund, Inc. in its first year of awarding grants benefited 14 nonprofit community organizations with a total of $67,475. “We raised this money from the community, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to return it to support some of the many worthy projects in the community,” said 2008-09 Rotary Club of Santa Paula President Mike Mobley.The Santa Paula Rotary Club Benefit Fund, Inc. reviewed 34 grant applications adding up to over $194,000.00 in requests. Mobley said the Benefit Fund has developed a tremendous, sustained annual fundraising mechanism in the Faulkner Farm Pumpkin Patch, “which we expect to grow each year, bringing more needed funds to the community. So even projects that we aren’t able to support this year will have another opportunity to apply for funding in coming years.”The SPFD received $2,035 for the purchase of a “Sparky” costume to be used in schools for student fire protection education, and Santa Paula CERT received $6,832.34 for the purchase of fire suppression training equipment. SCVH/HSG received $10,000 toward the purchase and retrofitting of the handicapped accessible van.
Rotary Club Benefit Fund grant recipients show results
June 26, 2009
Santa Paula News
There were plenty of reasons to celebrate at the June 15 Santa Paula Rotary Club BBQ at Ebell Park: the dedication of the six-year restoration project, as well as a look see at several of the results of the first ever grants from the club’s new Benefit Fund utilizing profits from the annual Pumpkin Patch.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThere were plenty of reasons to celebrate at the June 15 Santa Paula Rotary Club BBQ at Ebell Park: the dedication of the six-year restoration project, as well as a look see at several of the results of the first ever grants from the club’s new Benefit Fund utilizing profits from the annual Pumpkin Patch.Sparky the Fire Dog was accompanied by Santa Paula Fire Department Reserve and Rotarian Andy Van Sciver, who told Rotarians that Sparky is a great way to teach kids about fire safety. “Andy invited us and we wanted to thank the Rotary Club for the grants” that Fire Chief Rick Araiza said not only made the acquisition of Sparky possible, but also provided the funding for cost-savvy fire extinguisher training equipment.SPFD Captain Steve Lazenby, who oversees the city’s emergency preparedness and is the CERT training coordinator, said the new fire extinguishers will be used for training only and will save the SPFD about $1,000 annually. “It was dirty and expensive to teach people how to put out fires,” but the training extinguishers are recharged with water only yet offer the “same feel and the same effect” of the real deal. In addition, the training units can sense when the proper extinguisher technique is being used.Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group was happy to show off its medical appointment transport van, another project that benefited from the Rotary Club’s Pumpkin Patch grant program. In attendance were Hospice Board President and Rotary Past President Elias Valdes, Hospice Co-Founder and Board Director Cathy Barringer, Director Bob Vogel, driver Dave Huddy and John Macik, whose Santa Paula Chevrolet generously helped with the van conversion to be fully handicapped accessible.“This service is free for anyone who needs a ride” to a medical appointment, and Barringer said Huddy has proven to be a “wonderful, courteous and a wonderful mechanic,” whose skills kept the nonprofit’s old van operational far past its prime. “Thank you so much for the grant,” said Barringer, that allowed the successful program to continue.
