Thank you to all who contribute, participate, plan and attend! We will soon be starting the planning of our 2017 Stillwater Sampler.
Ten years of successful Samplers! We have worked well together, the restaurants have become more involved every year (and more competitive), we have had a lot of fun, and we have raised pretty good money for our local people. The Sampler has evolved over the years including adding an annual spotlight organization: the STEM program in the School District, Canvas Health homeless youth program, Youth Services Bureau, and Music Means More.
We have also changed our grant strategy by reducing the number of organizations receiving funds while increasing the amounts provided to each one. For example, last year we grossed $28,000 and allotted funds to 16 local organizations. Spotlight organizations have each received $10,000 - $15,000. The Sampler has netted funds as follows:
FY12 - $21,200
FY13 - $31,700
FY14 - $32,700
FY15 - $28,100
FY16 - $28,000
Our FY 2016 grant recipients included: 917 Education Foundation Relay for Life EVOLVE Adoption and Family, Century College, Community Thread, Courage Kenny Foundation,
Our Community Kitchen, Silver Sobriety, Stillwater High Scholarship (2), H2O for Life (S Jr HS), Stillwater Senior Party, Tree House, Valley Friendship Club, Valley Outreach, United Way -Washington County, and Youth Services Bureau.
In addition we matched Rotary projects undertaken by other Clubs - Hearts & Hammers/World Affairs (Stillwater Sunrise), Books for Africa (Woodbury), and the Fast for Hope match of our Club member donations.
