GREENVILLE – The Greenville “Rotary Gives Back” luncheon awarded 36 Darke County non-profit organizations grants totaling $33,500. In addition to the grants, Greenville Rotary also awarded 10 local high school seniors $1,000 scholarships. In all, Greenville Rotary distributed $43,500.
“To do an event like this where we can donate back to our community is fantastic – that’s why we are Rotary,” said Greenville Rotary President Brian Wagner.
The “Rotary Give Back” event highlights Rotary’s mission to promote the Darke County community while encouraging philanthropy and charitable giving. It also celebrates the accomplishments of high school seniors ready to embark upon new academic ventures.
“Manning, our Rotary lemonade trailer at the fair is just a small portion of it, but that’s a full-length fair staffing and open from beginning to end,” said Wagner. “You might call it work, but it’s more of an enjoyment because you work with others and make things better.”
Kristin Fee, chair of the Scholarship Committee, presented $1,000 scholarships to 10 seniors including Zoe Billenstein (Versailles), Isabella Black (Tri-Village), Joanie Hall (Franklin Monroe), Jayden Hicks (Greenville), Braden Keating (Tri-Village), Erin Leensvaart (Greenville), Lauren Pohl (Versailles), Dylan Riffell (Versailles), Heidi Stammen (Versailles), and Kiersten Wilcox (Tri-Village).
“The next generation – the pay forward or payback, depending on how you want to describe it,” Wagner stated. “Somebody was there to help us when we needed it or to give us that little extra to get over the top, and we want to return that favor.”
Non-profit organizations receiving grants: Annie Oakley Committee, AO Golf Tournament-CADC, Boys and Girls Club, Brethren Retirement Community – Bocce Ball Court Equipment, Brianna’s Hope, Bridges to College, Cancer Association of Darke County, CAP-Homeless Shelter, Catholic Social Services, Coalition for a Healthy Darke County-MH Speaker, Community Christmas Dinner, CORS-Aces, CORS-Gateway Youth, Darke County Association of Fire Chiefs, Darke County Center for the Arts, Darke County Park District, Darke County Pregnancy Help Center, Darke County Recovery Services-WATM, Darke County Senior Outreach, Darke County United Way, Empowering Darke County Youth, EUM Church-Next Step Helps, EverHeart Hospice, FAME, Garst Museum-Darke County Historical Society, Greenville High School-BPA, Greenville High School-Interactive Media, Greenville High School-Yearbook, I Am Well Foundation, Illumination Ministries, Main Street Greenville-Mural Committee, Radiant HOPE-Back to School Party, The House that Lulu Built-Grief Care Classes, ventureLINZ, Wayne HealthCare Foundation, YMCA of Darke County.
Anyone interested in becoming a Rotarian can visit Rotary.org and look for the Greenville, Ohio, club.
“It gives our information as far as when and where we meet and some contact information,” said Wagner. “They can also ask when they buy a lemonade shake at the fair.”
