News from the Grants Committee (Dec 2011)

As of 13 Dec 2011, the Grants committee has received 18 Matching Grant (MG) applications. We have certified 14 of these MGs with 4 still pending awaiting additional data or signatures before they can be certified. The total value of these 18 MGs is almost $753,000.00 with $119,000.00 of District 5240 DDF committed to these MGs. Just last week we certified the largest MG the district has ever certified. The value of this “Competitive” MG was $220,476.00 with $38,328.00 of District 5240 DDF committed to this one MG. It is a Micro Credit MG that will occur within District 5240 (A so called “reverse” MG). The first area within D5240 that will be targeted for the Micro Credit loans is Santa Paula. Rotary Club (RC) of Simi Sunrise is the Host club. District 3720 from South Korea is the International Partner. Grant Committee member, Heather Frankle prepared the MG application and the MG included DDF from Districts 5230, 3720 and 3690 (South Korea), 4530 and 4630 (Brazil), 3510 (Taiwan) with cash provided by a Rotary Club in Australia. Ten (10) D5240 clubs also contributed cash along with the RC of Visalia County Center. The effort to put this MG together was considerable, requiring many months of coordination by Heather.

Currently there is almost $41K of D5240 DDF remaining. Clubs should submit any additional MG applications as soon as possible. The 15 March deadline for submission of MG applications is rapidly approaching with the strong possibility that all of the remaining D5240 DDF will be exhausted prior to the deadline. Grant Chair Larry Smith will be on vacation, out of the country on a South American cruise from 4 Jan through 24 Jan 2012. Co-Chair Heather Frankle will be acting Chair and any MG applications submitted during this period should be emailed to Heather (hfrankle@earthlink.net).