2019 Allocations

The Rotary Club of Palatine raises money through its annual Oktoberfest, held on the third weekend of September. This year we were able to distribute $50,000 from that event to thirty-three local charities. The Allocation event was held at the Cotillion in Palatine on March 13. Thanks to all the people that came to celebrate with us, and thanks for all the good work you do in our community!

Short Description of the Charities and Activities We Supported

Palatine Township Senior Citizens Council Their Mission is to provide programs and services which support older adults and their families by encouraging independence, well-being and connection to the community.  We paid for a portion of their Social Services staff.
Palatine Tigersharks Swim Team  Their Mission is to provide affordable and high quality competitive swim instruction for all levels and abilities.   We bought T-Shirts for 150 Volunteers for the Palatine Swim meet in June.
Northwest Community Hospital Foundation   Improving the health of the communities and to meet individuals healthcare needs. The money will help with the purchasing of food preparation demonstration equipment at the Partners for Our Community Center in Palatine. Food insecurity has been directly linked to poorer physical and mental health as well as to an increased risk of chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension.
St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly  The Little Sisters dedicate their lives to lovingly care for the elderly until God calls them home.  St Joseph’s offers a continuum of care from Independent living apartments to minimal assistance in Intermediate Care and continuing to Total Nursing Care, striving to provide the best care possible for the Residents.  With the money allocated to them they will be purchasing a microAir Alternating Pressure Limited Air Mattress with pump. This will be the first course of intervention to help prevent bed sores.
American Cancer Society  - Relay for Life  Attacking cancer from all angles. Education & Prevention, Research, Assistance to survivors and Caregivers, 24/7 help phone line and website.  The money awarded today will help sponsor this event.  The event this year is Friday June 14 at Sundling Jr High.
Partners for Our Community – Icompete Summer Camp  To introduce 100 underserved children to athletics, arts, and academics by breaking down the barriers of access in order to stimulate interest, provide academic support and increase opportunities for families.  Our support will pay for Two days of activities for the children.  The summer camp runs from July 15- July 26.  The camp is designed to offer children the opportunity to see areas beyond their neighborhood.

One-five Foundation  Their Mission is to acquire resources to be used for programs and projects to enhance and supplement the educational experience of District 15 students.  Funding tonight will bring Journals for the Rainbows program to 270 students.  The Rainbows program help guide and support the students through life changing events such as death of a parent of family member, divorce, military deployment  or homelessness.
Escorted Transportation Service Northwest is dedicated to transporting elderly Palatine residents to and from their crucial medical appointments.  The average age of their passengers is 85, who can no longer drive or take public transportation.  The volunteer drivers pick up the passengers at their homes, stay with them at the appointment and return them home.  The money today with help purchase necessary  office equipment.
Lutheran Church Charities K-9 Ministries   When  tragedy strikes the LCC  comfort dogs respond within 24 hours.  The K9s and their handlers have their paws and boots on the ground to comfort those in need. The funding today will help purchase training equipment for new LCC Comfort puppies. 
Arts Refreshing the Soul    Promotes well being of at risk women and children and facilitates their recovery from domestic abuse, poverty and or homelessness through educational creative arts and music programs.  This funding will help pay for their new system which helps track volunteers, donors and clients.
WINGS program Inc.   Provides housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence. Last fiscal year WINGS provided 1,076 clients with 79,842 nights of emergency transitional and permanent supportive housing.  The money requested will assist in renovating the agency’s transitional housing home in Palatine which houses up to four families.
Special Leisure Services Foundation exists to support and promote outstanding opportunities through recreation for children and adults with disabilities. Special Leisure Services Foundation is the fundraising arm of Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA).  They will use the money they received this evening for supplies needed for the NWSRA Day Camps.

Music on Stage The mission of Music on Stage is to bring quality musical theater to the northwest suburbs.  They will be using the money awarded to help defray the cost of costumes for the upcoming season.
Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County Provides a coordinated, child sensitive response to reports of sexual and/or severe physical abuse involving children. The funding tonight will help support one child and their family through an investigation.  Each case averages an average of 25 hours of investigative service.
Bridge Youth & Family Services  The Bridge helps children overcome some of life’s challenges; some which are traumatic, guiding them to happier more productive lives.  Most children served by The Bridge are overcoming unfortunate circumstances. Nine out of ten have experienced trauma such as the death of a parent, parental alcoholism or incarceration of a family member and some are victims of child abuse or neglect.  The grant awarded this evening will help launch and implement its new Donor Database Management Software.

Children’s Dyslexia Center of Metropolitan Chicago  The Center teaches dyslexic children in a one on one setting.  To ensure student safety, they require cameras in every classroom.  Todays award helps fund cameras in the classrooms.
Connect to Community   is dedicated to securing and facilitating meaningful employment for adults who live in our community and are developmentally disabled.      C to C starts where government stops; happening when a client turns 22 years of age.   C to C helps the young men and woman find employment, so they can reach their potential, ultimately leading to a meaningful productive life in their community.  Tonight’s  grant funding will go towards their Customized Employment Initiative and for a portable scanner that would benefit the Educational Outreach Program.
Partners for Our Communities (POC) These funds will help their local garden project.  The project provides fresh garden grown vegetables for food insecure families who care for the garden April-October.  This grant will help pay for an assistant to the Garden Coordinator for 120 hours of work from May – September.  Because the actual garden property belongs to the Village of Palatine, their agreement requires someone to be on-site to coordinate & supervise volunteers working in the garden. Many of the volunteers working the garden come from Fremd HS and CCSD15. 
American Legion Post #690   As we all know, we can never do enough for our veterans, right?  The Legion and its members are devoted to helping our veterans in a number of ways and making our community a better place.  Tonight’s grant will support the Legion’s project to install an electrical chair-lift, to provide our physically disabled veterans easy access to all levels of Post #690.
Palatine & Fremd High School Their goal is to enrich the students and communities cultural experience through the Arts.  These grant funds will allow both Palatine HS & Fremd HS’s Drama Dept.’s to purchase  sorely needed lavalier style microphones for their wonderful productions.
Special Gifts Theatre  The mission of Special Gifts Theatre is to provide individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,  therapeutic and educational theatre arts experiences.  Not only does it foster social, emotional and life skill learning, it challenges the  stereotypes in our communities about people with disabilites.  A grant from RCOP will be used to support the Musical Theatre Program at Sundling Jr HS.  Funds will be used to cover program costs for student scholarships, classroom supplies, peer mentor training supplies, sets, costumes, microphones and program book printing.  I believe this years production is Madagascar!

The Palatine Public Library Fund They foster awareness of Library services by distributing financial support to the Palatine Public Library District and its programs and projects.  One project called the “The Story Walk” at Hamilton Reservoir Park in Palatine opened June 6, 2018.  This funding will go to sponsor new story boards on the walking trail at the reservoir for 2019.
Excel Beyond 211 “Dollars for Scholars”   Helps low-income first-generation students successfully transition to college.  Excel Beyond will be using the funding from the Rotary Club of Palatine for unexpected costs related to these student’s education.  In the past, these requests have included textbooks, required on-line resources, fees associated with background checks and other unique one-time costs.
Journeycare Foundation JourneyCare’s mission is to enrich lives through expert and compassionate care and their vision is to transform lives by building a community where palliative, supportive and end-of-life care is accepted, expected  and available to all.  Journeycare’s grant will be used for the Comfort and Joy program.  This program provides patients and family members under their care, with special non-medical items and wishes.  Last year the Comfort and Joy program helped purchase a special high chair for a pediatric patient, helped purchase glasses, clothing, transportation needs, gas and rent.  They also help fulfill end of life special day wishes.
Palatine Police Dept The men and women of the Palatine Police Dept. work hard to maintain a safe community in which to live and work.  The RCOP recognizes the importance of partnerships and our police department has and continues to be a valuable partner every day.  The grant funding for the police dept. will go towards the purchase of some new traffic safety barriers, cones, and LED safety flares.  These items will be used during Oktoberfest, other festivals in Palatine and during traffic safety initiatives in our community. 

Journeys The Road Home provides shelter, social services and housing to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in 37 communities in north/northwest suburban Cook County.  Journeys runs the PADS Shelter Program, the HOPE Center Supportive Services Program, and the Pathways Housing Readiness Program, all which are focused on assisting those in need.  The money awarded tonight will help fund the many of the basic needs offered in the HOPE Center.  Additionally, it will help fund fuel costs associated with the agency’s mini bus, which is used to transport at-risk clients; including those with disabilities to necessary services. 
Palatine Emergency Management Agency Provides high-level emergency service to Palatine residents by assisting the Village of Palatine in its time of need.  PEMA volunteers prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters when they happen in our community and in neighboring communities.  The allocated funds they are receiving tonight will help their volunteers be better equipped when assisting local law enforcement and fire service professionals as they search for missing persons in our community.    
Shelter, Inc. Provides community-based emergency housing for children and adolescents who are abused, neglected and in need of supervision.  This grant funding will support medical treatment and personal hygiene necessities for their clients.
Clearbrook Continues to create innovative opportunities and services that supports people with disabilities.  Currenty Clearbrook  provides services to 147 children and 78 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Palatine.  Clearbrook will be using the funding for gardening tools and plants for their Group Homes.  The residents living at the group homes take care of the gardens, learning about gardening and the importance of ownership and pride. 
Association of Horizon  Empowers adults with physical disabilities through lifelong friendships and recreation.  They assist clients diagnosed w/a form of disability by  providing opportunities that challenge their clients and help them develop and grow through positive interactions.  Clients and volunteers learn together how to overcome everyday obstacles.  The funding awarded tonight will help make the Adaptive Adventures Camp Experience a possibility for adult clients.

Ray Mills Fund  The Ray Mills fund is named after a former PHS employee who was more than just a teacher and counselor to so many students at PHS.  Some of us would describe him as a Secret Santa, but to the many students he helped at PHS, he was probably the Unknown Angel.  Ray recognized there were times some students were unable to participate in basic high school activities because their families lacked the financial stability; items like school supplies, sports equipment, even a graduation gown fee.  Tonight’s funding will continue Ray Mills legacy of giving at PHS, so others can reach their potential and maybe someday pay forward themselves.