Local not-for-profit groups proudly display “checks” they received from the Rotary Club of Lake Houston during the club’s annual October appreciation luncheon. Also pictured are business sponsors who support the Rotary program. Club President Kathryn Lemman is in the center in white. Pam McNair, grants committee chair, is third from left, back row. Photo by Tom Broad, The Tribune
Almost $80,000 in grants were awarded to 16 area not-for-profit organizations by the Rotary Club of Lake Houston at the club’s annual appreciation luncheon held Wednesday, Oct. 27 at the Lake Houston Family YMCA.
“This is my favorite program of the year,” said Kathryn Lemman, club president. “We get to show our appreciation to the businesses who support us and support the organizations that do so much for our community.”
Service group has distributed more than $1.5 million since 2005
“This has been an amazing year, a record year,” Pam McNair said prior to calling each organization representative to the podium to receive a check. “Some years are lean and some years are not so lean. Thanks to our sponsors and to our community projects, we were able to be generous with our organizations this year.”
McNair, chair of the Community Grant Giving Committee, presented checks to the following organizations:
- Family Time — for kitchen renovation
- Including Kids — to expand offices
- Society of St. Stephen — for school supply drive and Operation Backpack
- Oaks of Righteousness — to expand kitchen
- Family Promise — for transportation needs for families and to buy gas cards
- Re: Mind — develop online curriculum for depression and bipolar support groups
- Humble Area Assistance Ministries — repair the parking lot
- Mission Northeast — purchase space heaters, gas cards for seniors’ program
- Holocaust Remembrance Association — support the Upstander Stone Project
- WINGS Ministry — build an online curriculum program
- Boots for Troops — custom care packages for veterans
- Sleep in Heavenly Peace — build beds for children without beds
- Community Response Task Force — update the website
- Village Learning Center — sensory space at day program campus
- Rotary Rose Group — aid women with postpartum depression and post COVID-19
The Lake Houston Family YMCA received the Rotary District grant which allows them to continue their Safety Around Water program for Title 1 schools in Humble ISD and local apartment complexes.
Local not-for-profit organizations submit their application through the club’s community grant application web page. Each application is vetted by members of the committee which includes McNair, Scott Hively, Juan Ayabar, Debbie Kevlin, Valerie Copley and Eric Gómez. Grants are based on the amount of funds raised by the club.
Lemman described the crucial role that local businesses and the club’s annual fundraising play in Rotary’s ability to support Lake Houston’s not-for-profits.
“It’s the people with us today,” she said pointing out Lake Houston’s local business leaders attending the luncheon. “This year we raised nearly $80,000 through our annual golf tournament, our car raffle, and through the generosity of our many business sponsors.”
Since 2005, contributions from the club to the Lake Houston community total almost $1.5 million. In addition to the grants, Rotary Club of Lake Houston also provides student scholarships, student leadership development programs, the Rotary youth exchange program and support of the Humble ISD FFA Livestock Auction.
The Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area meets Wednesdays, 11:45 a.m., at the Lake Houston YMCA. The Summer Creek Satellite Club meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays at the third-floor board room of Generation Park at 8:30 a.m. To learn more about the advantages of being a Rotarian, lharotary.com.
Story by Tom Broad © 2021 The Tribune. Republished with permission.
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