Continuing its decades-long support of programs to enrich the youth of our community, The Rotary Club of Salisbury has awarded $53,000 divided among 13 local non-profit organizations through its annual 3-Point Initiative. The initiative supports youth programs that promote leadership, integrity, and academic achievement.
Gus Lebois, chairman of the 104 year old club’s 3-Point Initiative, noted that the 2024 grants represent both an increase in the amount of money being provided and the number of agencies being supported. “We are proud of this major youth support program that can only be provided through the tremendous support by our partnering organizations.”
Funding for these grants comes from members of the Rotary Club of Salisbury and the club’s foundation, plus their partnering organizations that include the Donnie Williams Foundation, Richard & Patricia Hazel Charitable Fund, Richard A. Henson Foundation, Meuse Post 194 V.F.W., Tony Tank Tribe 149 Redmen, and Mitzi Perdue, each of which made a generous donation.
Eligible organizations were government entities, faith-based organizations, and non-profit public charities that support programs for youth on the Lower Eastern Shore. Members of the Rotary Club of Salisbury screened the applications, made site visits, and weighed the contributions that each organization would make to our community.
Receiving grants are:
- Salisbury Urban Ministries – The mission of this group’s Kids Café program is to provide a safe learning environment for children to help them flourish academically, socially, and civically while exposing them to activities and services that promote overall growth and development so they can become productive and successful citizens.
- Christian Shelter – The Youth Mentoring Program provides after school activities to help youngsters at the shelter grow socially and academically. Nearly 300 children are expected to be helped.
- One Year to Empowerment – The 2024 Empoweree Program will help 32 middle school and high school girls on the Lower Eastern Shore learn how to be responsible students while acquiring basic life skills knowledge.
- Rebirth – This program provides after-school resources, technology, learning, and a support center for vulnerable youngsters in our community through the purchase of office and technology equipment to help them have access to high speed internet services.
- Dove Pointe – Money will be used to purchase equipment to help children with autism deal with different sensory issues.
- Main Street Gym – About 90 children will be aided through scholarships and educational materials for the gym’s learning program. The gym has on-site tutoring, listen and learn sessions, and participation in community service projects.
- Epoch Dream Center – Western Wicomico County students in this free after-school and summer program that engages them in areas of academics, character development, behavior, and emotional wellness will benefit from the grant to fund the mental wellness component.
- Crossroads Early Intervention – Twenty five children in this new program will be afforded age-appropriate developmental psychological assessments to ensure that the underlying causes for their challenges are identified.
- Horizons Delmarva Inc. – The award will be used to help sponsor the new first graders coming into the program this summer. The aim of the program is to close the income-driven academic engagement gap in our community.
- Village of Hope – Close to 45 students in residence at the Village of Hope will be helped in the “Empowering Children’s Project” to achieve success in learning.
- United Way of the Lower Eastern Shore – The grant will support the Lower Shore Addiction Awareness Visual Art Competition that creates awareness about substance disorders, provides education, and promotes conversations about addiction among high school students and the larger community.
- Salisbury Christian School – Money will be used to aid the school buy equipment and supplies for its new after-school agriculture club that will incorporate science, mathematics, reading, and art using a hands-on, student-led approach.
- Junior Achievement – This program is called the Junior Achievement Inspire Program and supports 8th grade student education in career readiness and financial literacy classes.
Representatives of 13 local organizations that provide services to youth on the Lower Eastern Shore received checks totaling $53,000 from the Rotary Club of Salisbury through its 3-Point Initiative that works to promote leadership, integrity, and academic achievement.
