Rotary Club of Berkeley
A Global Network of Volunteers
2011-2012Rotary Grants
SUMMARY OF GRANT REQUESTS –
The membership of the Endowment (Rotary members) will vote after our recommendations are approved by the Club and Endowment Boards.
The recommendations will be presented to
the Endowment Board on July 20 and
the Club Board on July 28
The following is a summary of each grant request. Traditional projects that have been funded for a number of years are not described in this document. They are shown on the overall spread sheet.
There are two grants that were approved and funded in prior years that are included first so we remember our hands-on commitments that are still open.
There are three projects for this year that have been committed to by various committees, boards and presidents. They are included next for your review, discussion and confirmation.
Funds available approximately $60,000of which approximately $30,000 is to be allocated to traditional and on-going projects. Therefore there is approximately $30,000 for these grants. The total requested is $65,240. The Endowment will provide a final total available later this week.
ON GOING HANDS-ON Projects - NO additional funding needed
# 1 This 2009-2010 year project (Judith’s year) will be built in the fall of 2011 and is already funded.
Organization:Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (BOSS)
Hands-on with Rotaract participation
Project Title:UrsulaShermanVillage Playground
Rotary Contact:Jonathan DeYoe (Rotary), Daniel Barth (BOSS)
Estimated Cost:$6,000 AND district grant $3,000
Project Description:
BOSS is a nonprofit organization that provides housing and services to families and individuals out of homelessness and helps them in new lives. The organization operates county wide and its administrative offices are located in Berkeley. The project is primarily to help development a playground at UrsulaShermanVillage. The project needs playground equipment for toddlers and preteens including an outdoor fitness area and bicycle parking. They requested a grant of $15,000 for work to be done in the summer of 2009. The proposal states that “the project will directly benefit Berkeley’s homeless children and families who live in the village.” They are very interested in having us working with them hands-on on the playground improvements. They received a Chancellor’s Grant for part of this project.
# 2 This 2010-2011 year project (Fred’s year) will be built in the fall of 2011 and is already funded.
Organization: Through the Looking Glass
Hands-on with Rotaract participation
Project: Ed Roberts Campus playground
Contact:Ed Church (Rotary), Megan Kirshbaum (Looking Glass)
Estimated cost:$4,000
Project Description:
The project is to build play area storage cabinets (exterior) at the Through the Looking Glass facility at the Ed Roberts Campus near Ashby BART.
This is a first of its kind facility where many agencies, all supporting the disabled community, will come together in one facility. BORP has offices in the center but continues to have program space in the “Rod & Gun Club” facility on University.
The Trio Foundation has been asked to be the major supporter of this play structure for autistic children. Rotary is being asked to help both finically and with “hands-on” labor.
There is Federal Head Start money involved as well.
2011-2012Projects – CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
# 3 This 2011-2012 project (Reg’s year) received Club Board approval previously because of timing. It is included in the budget as funded.
Organization: Rotaract Agent Orange Conference
Hands-on with Rotaract participation
Project: Conference on campus re Agent Orange
Contact:Alex Glass (Rotary)
Estimated cost:$500 - $1,000
This is being organized by San Francisco Rotary and the Cal Rotaract. We signed on as a co-sponsor in April for $500 - $1,000. The project is scheduled for a two day symposium October 28 -29, 2011 at the DavidBrowerCenter and the ClarkKerrConferenceCenter.
With the support of the Ford Foundation, Rotary will be staging at Cal the first national symposium on the Agent Orange problems left behind from the Vietnam War in Vietnam and the U.S. The symposium will be held under the auspices of the same UC Berkeley center than has housed the RotaryPeaceCenter, and has the sponsorship of Cal Rotaract and the Rotary Clubs of Berkeley and San Francisco among other clubs.
On Friday evening, there will be films and a reception, and all day Saturday there will be major speakers and symposia on the campus, in this effort to foster national attention on a serious continuing problem.
The Club Board (Fred’s year) approved being a sponsor. It is expected to be $500 but we do not have the final number.
# 4 This 2011-2012 project (Reg’s year) received Project Committee approval in the spring to develop the project. Much work has been done. It is scheduled for October 13, 2011. It is included in the budget as funded.
Organization:Rotary & Rotaract
Hands-on with Rotaract
Project Title:Empty Bowls
Rotary Contact:George Luna (Rotary)
Estimated Cost:$2,000
Hands-on with Rotaract, event October 13, 2011
Project Description:
Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. The basic premise is simple:
-Potters and others work with community to create handcrafted bowls.
-Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread
-In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all empty bowls
-Money raised is donated to an organization working to end hunger
Events have now taken place across the USA and in at least a dozen other countries. Many millions have been raised.
George reports – he has been notified by the ASUC art studio that their potters have made over 200 soup bowls for the project. Cal Rotaract will be our partner.
The "Empty Bowls" dinner is a soup dinner for the community, to raise funds for the local food banks serving the homeless and poor of Berkeley. Cal Dining will prepare the soup.
The event is scheduled for October 13, 2011, Thursday, at Pauley Ball Room. The venue is free of charge because of Rotaract.
The money goes to a specific project that helps to end hunger; Alameda County Food Bank is a possibility. A more Berkeley focused organization is preferred.
You get to come home with a bowl made by George Luna's pottery group. Time and price TBA
# 5 This 2011-2012 International project (Reg’s year) received a commitment form Reg and Grier because of timing to participate a second year in a Global Grant Project in Africa. It is included in the budget as funded for $1,000 subject to your approval.
Organization: Chico & District 5160
Project: Tanzania Water Harvesting project led by Chico
Contact:Reg Garcia & District 5160
Estimated cost:$1,000
Project Description:
Contribute to the global matching grant proposal led by the Chico club in District 5160 in conjunction with Rotary Clubs in Tanzania, Africa, for building water harvesting systems. This was a successful project last year. In 2010-11 we committed $2,000. The request for funds this year came before our meeting and Reg and I agreed we would fund this at $1,000 subject to your approval.
The project would build additional water harvesting systems as the Chico club has done in the past with the Tanzanian clubs.
This project responds to highly important needs. The ability of the Tanzanian clubs to help build and later maintain the systems has been well documented in this region, as is their close work with the community. Our African Studies club member, Prof. Benj. Lawrence, who has lead past Rotary wells projects there, conceded he was “impressed”. Our participation would increase our linkages with clubs across the District, and benefit our future project applications when we seek partners.
# 6 This 2011-2012 year project (Reg’s year) is proposed for a District Matching Grant in the amount of $6,600 District, El Cerrito $500, Berkley $4,000 and in-kind contributions. It is included in the budget as funded for $2,000 subject to your approval and the receipt of the District Grant. The committee may decide to fund this with or without the District Grant.
Organization: BORP (bay Area Outreach & Recreation
Hands-on with Rotaract and others
Project: Adaptive RecreationCenter Rehab Project
Contact:Steve Holland (Rotary), Kia Burkett (BORP)
Estimated cost:$2,000 plus $2,000 from last year, $11,100 total
Project Description:
When in New Orleans for the International Convention, Alex Glass suggested to Reg and Grier that we apply for a District Grant and that BORP would be a good project. This project was begun last year with a $2,000 seed money grant. BORP is now a finalist for a Chancellor’s Grant in the amount of $25,000.
Participating groups: BORP families, Berkeley Rotary, El Cerrito Rotary, Cal Rotaract, East Bay Rotaract.
Funding: Chancellor’s Grant $25,000, District 5160 $6,600, Berkley Rotary 2010-2011 $2,000, Berkeley Rotary $2,000 (this request), El Cerrito Rotary $500. There will be several work days for hands-on work.
The facility is the old Berkeley Rod and Gun Club located at AquaticPark at the foot of Addison Street in Berkeley. The building is in poor condition and has not been used productively for some time. BORP is proposing to rehab the building to make it accessible with an accessible entry and entry ramp, repair interior and exterior walls, and install a handicapped bathroom.
BORP has applied for a Chancellor’s Community Fund Grant from UC Berkeley. This is a partnership grant between Berkeley and the community and needs UC students’ participation (UC Rotaract) and community support (Rotary clubs and East Bay Rotaract and the BORP community). The Chancellor’s grant was approved for second round review by the Chancellor’s office and a final decision as to the Chancellor’s Grant will be made in early August 2011.
The District may tie their grant to receiving the Chancellor’s grant. If BORP does not receive a Chancellor’s Grant and receives the district grant the project will have to be scaled back significantly.
BORP provides sports and recreation opportunities to youth and adults with disabilities. The AdaptiveRecreationCenter project will bring together university and community partners to transform a building at AquaticPark currently in disrepair into an adaptive recreation center. BORP youth and adult participants will work with university students, staff, and professors, as well as community volunteers to make accessibility modifications to the building. The project will bring together these diverse groups to both transform the building and educate partners on disability issues, disability culture, and the very important issue of access to sports and recreation for people with disabilities.
At BORP,sports and recreation are not just as a way to attain fitness, but also a path to greater achievement. Over the past 10 years, 100% of BORP’s youth have graduated from high school. Over 90% have gone to college and over 70% are employed. These statistics are in sharp contrast with national data and are particularly impressive given that 70% of BORP’s youth come from low-income families.
ON GOING SUPPORT - REVIEW
# 7 This 2010-2011 year project (Fred’s year) has a balance in the fund and it is recommended that it remain open. NO NEW FUNDS NEEDED
Organization: Cal Rotaract
Project: Summer Service Projects for Rotaractors, summer 2012
Contact:Fred Collignon (Rotary)
Estimated cost:$2,750 remaining ($3,000 original Grant)
Project Description
Summer Service Scholarships for Rotaractors with Third World Rotary Club Service Projects
These scholarships are being proposed by a coalition of university Rotaract clubs at the Western Regional conference at Cal in October to the California District Governors as a major new initiative in Rotary. The idea comes out of Cal Rotaract and is modeled on the CalBlumCenter scholarships for summer service abroad which currently funds 30 students for such service experiences in the Third World.
The BlumCenter has agreed that placements with Third World Rotary clubs in already planned service projects are almost “ideal” in their definition of a good summer placement. The details for the program are still being worked out.
We contributed $250 from this fund and another $250 to Maria Cordero one of our scholars who is at Davis for a summer study project. The remainder of the funds is unspent.
Because students will be applying during the fall 2011 and spring of 2012, we need to keep this fund open.
A set of criteria, who will administer the program and how will be determined by the District. As the sponsor of the Rotaract Club our club needs to be on the forefront of support and we need to be able to support this at the conference.
# 8 This on-going support for Cal Rotaract will move to traditional funding subject to your approval. It is budgeted at the same amount as prior years.
Organization: Cal Rotaract
Project: Annual support
Contact:Fred Collignon (Rotary)
Estimated cost:$2000
Project Description:
This is the annual support for Cal Rotaract which started as support for their bone marrow drive. The funds in subsequent years marked as undesignated.
# 9 This on-going project has been budgeted at $8,000. Due to increased costs of books and printing the Youth Committee has requested an increase to $9,000. It is included in the budget as funded subject to your approval. TRADITIONAL PROJECT
Organization: Berkeley Rotary
Project: Dictionary Project – 3rd graders
Contact:Irene Hagarty Rotary
Estimated cost:$9000
# 10 Consider increasing this on-going support scholarship support due to the summer scholarships and other scholar needs.
Organization:Berkeley Rotary
Project:Scholar support – college and post graduate
Contact:Don Alter, Grier Graff Rotary
Estimated Cost:$700(increase over prior years $200)
Project Description:
These funds have been used to support Ambassadorial Scholars who are outbound and have been sponsored by our club. They are not a part of the scholarship but provide for incidentals such as travel to the orientation meeting, gifts for Rotarians in the host country, etc.
This past year we spent $335. We also spent $250 of unbudgeted monies for Maria Cordero’s summer scholarship (total $500 for Maria) which could have come from this fund if we broaden the allowable expenses a bit. Therefore a name change is proposed and an increase in the amount of funds available.
We have an outbound scholar for 2012, Jimmy Le and may have additional summer scholars.
# 11 Consider increasing the amount of this on-going scholarship to cover a greater percentage of the costs. CONTINUING SCHOLARSHIP
Organization:Cambiando Vidas, Chacala MX
Project Title:Sofia Gonzales Rivas memorial Scholarship
Rotary Contact:Pate Thomson, orEndowment Treasurer
Estimated Cost:$800(possible increase)
Project Description:
This scholarship is an on-going commitment to Cambiando Vidas, Chacala MX. This will be the fourth year of funding this scholarship. Last year the committee voted NOT to increase the amount. There has been no request for a larger scholarship, although this does not pay the entire scholarship amount. Discuss increasing the amount of the scholarship.
The scholarship is in memory of the daughter of the owner of Coco Bongo who was killed in a car accident in 2009. The scholarship is currently funding a portion of the costs of college for the first recipient, her mother Chela (Piedad Griselda Rivas Salazar) who finished her high school at Zacualpan. She is currently in law school.
A number of Berkeley Rotarians volunteered for three years to build educational infrastructure in Chacala. That structure has facilitated the exciting work of Cambiando Vidas which now has several graduates from college, one graduate from medical school and an ongoing waiting list.
New Grant requests
Youth & Community Related
# 12 Organization: Niroga Institute
Funding only
Project: Partial funding, TLS stress reduction program for 2011-2012 school year. Berkley Unified is a cooperating organization.
Contact:Jonathan DeYoe & Joe Maloney Rotary, Bidyut Bose, Niroga Ex. Dir.
Estimated cost:$5,000 (matching funds available)
Project Description:
There are ~325 youth in 3 small schools in Berkeley High School (BHS) - Life Academy, Green Academy and Community Partnership Academy; most of them are of color, and are dealing with the trauma of abuse, neglect, chronic stress, substance abuse and juvenile justice involvement. They are at high risk of dropping out, with the associated lifetime challenges of homelessness, substance abuse and crime and violence. Niroga Institute would like to expand its current Transformative Life Skills (TLS) program at BHS,which has been shown to lower stress and increase self-control in hundreds of high-risk adolescents.
Niroga has been conducting a small TLS program in LifeAcademy and GreenAcademy this year (Spring Semester, 2011), funded by individual donors and BHS. The program has received an overwhelmingly positive response by students, staff and administration.
Closing the achievement gap and achieving education equity are key objectives of Berkeley’s Vision 2020. TLS addresses root causes of school failure, with its concomitant challenges in community health and well-being.
The project will primarily serve minority youth, age 14-18 years in BerkeleyHigh School, who are at high risk of school failure, substance abuse and juvenile delinquency. Benefits include healthy behaviors and healthy lifestyle choices at the individual level, and reduced dropout rate, less substance abuse, and decreased crime and violence at the community level.
Jonathan DeYoe has raised and will continue to raise money for a $1 to $1 match.
# 13 Organization: CEID(Center for Early Intervention on Deafness)
Funds only, NO “hands-on” participation
Project: Partial scholarship for one child to Sunshine Preschool
Contact:Jon Shindo Rotary, Jill Ellis CEID
Estimated cost:$1,000
Project Description:
CEID serves children (age birth to 5) and families many who are at the lowest end of the socio-economic scale. This is a specific request to provide a partial scholarship for one particular child for CEID Sunshine Preschool and related services. The child wears two cochlear implants and demonstrates every opportunity for academic success, provided she receives one more year of intensive special education and mainstreaming opportunities at CEID.