Saratoga News

Rotary Club donates art show funds to local nonprofit groups

By John Pancharian

Just as plans for this year's Rotary art show get under way, last year's proceeds are reaching local organizations.

The Saratoga Rotary Club presented two grants to local charities at its Feb. 27 luncheon. Eastfield Ming Quong and the San Jose Cleveland Ballet both received checks from the Rotary Service Fund, which last year distributed more than $60,000 in grants.

EMQ officials said the center plans to purchase photography equipment to use in teaching developmentally disabled children, and the San Jose Cleveland Ballet plans learning demonstrations at Santa Clara Valley schools--including Redwood School in Saratoga.

"This year is a banner year," Fred Peterson, service fund chairman, said. "We have over $100,000 available for grant purposes."

All Service Fund money is raised at the annual Rotary Club art show, which takes place on the first weekend of May. After the proceeds from art sales are collected, 12 club members review grant applications from local charities, schools and churches and distribute the money during the course of the year. Some 1997 recipients included the Saratoga Library Foundation, Sacred Heart Church and the Saratoga Senior Center. The Rotary Club rarely gives money to the same organization twice in successive years, which means any 501(c)(3), a.k.a. charity, organization interested in receiving funds in coming years has a pretty good chance.

This year's art show will take place May 3 on the campus of West Valley College and will showcase the talents of more than 170 artists. In addition to selling paintings for a good cause, the show also includes food and entertainment and is the largest of its kind in the Western United States. Last year saw more than 30,000 attendees, and roughly 30 percent of the artists were new.

[ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ]