LAST WEEK’S MEETING
The happy buzz inside Wick Park Pavilion on March 30 came from Rotarians and community members who turned out in great numbers for the annual Youngstown Rotary Foundation Grant Awards.
The foundation presented $25,000 in awards – five grants of $3,000 each and one grant of $10,000 — to six organizations that provide admirable, invaluable, impactful service throughout and beyond Youngstown.
The Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods, or ACTION, will apply its $3,000 award to the launch of a mobile market vehicle that will take healthy foods into city neighborhoods that are food deserts for lack of grocery stores. ACTION Organizer Vicki Vicars said the truck may be ready to roll as soon as this month.
Michele Jones, co-founder of the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley, said Rotary’s support will enhance the Buddy Up Tennis Program, in which children with Down Syndrome interact with the men’s and women’s tennis teams at Youngstown State University for learning, exercise and fun.
Oh Wow! The Roger & Gloria Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology, is moving forward with a 9-week digital storytelling and digital literacy program for city students that has been inspired by Pixar computer animation films. One project, once completed, will be shown on Apple TV. “We feel the youth of the Valley have a story to tell,” said Marvin Logan, Oh Wow’s executive director.
Dominic Mancini of Sight For All said Rotary will help the nonprofit to reach Youngstown students who missed the nonprofit’s free in-school eye exams and eyeglass fittings. Those students will instead be transported to local ophthalmologists for exams and, if needed, eyeglasses.
A Rotary grant is the “basis for us to grow,” said Kathleen Moliterno, development and marketing director of Yellow Brick Place, which helps patients and their families to cope with cancer. Rotary funding will be invested into software to simplify maintaining contact with clients, volunteers and donors, she said.
The $10,000 award went to United Returning Citizens, which assists persons after incarceration with employment training and job searching, among other services. Executive Director Dionne Dowdy cited two programs that will benefit from the Rotary grant: A women’s empowerment group and weekend retreats to address mental and emotional health of participants.
Becky Davis, Youngstown Rotary Foundation chairwoman, coordinated this year’s program. The grant review committee consisted of Kevin Chiu, President-Elect Sharon Letson, President Josh Prest and Davis. A video presentation of award winners, produced by Marquee Creatives (owned by Rotarian Aundrea Cika Heschmeyer) was shown to all in attendance. Thank you to these Rotarians for their contributions of time and talent.
There was more good news during the meeting. Adam Lee received his actual Paul Harris Fellow Award, three weeks after he was named a PHF at the club’s 107th anniversary dinner. Don Foley introduced Diana Homick as RCY’s newest member. Mike Latessa announced that the April Beers, Cheers & Gears Happy Hour will be at 5:30 p.m. April 21 at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, 655 N. Canfield-Niles Road, Austintown.
Adam Lee also announced that neighborhood associations are supporting the 2022 Wick Park Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 9, from 11 a.m. to noon. Pancakes will be served at 9 a.m. in the pavilion; cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 1 to 12. Egg hunt registration will begin at 10 a.m.
