Continuing its decades-long support of programs to enrich the youth of our community, The Rotary Club of Salisbury has awarded $52,500 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 105 year old club’s 3-Point Initiative, noted that “the 2025 grants can only be provided through the tremendous support of our partnering organizations.”
Funding for these grants comes from members of the Rotary Club of Salisbury, plus its partnering organizations that include the Donnie Williams Foundation, Richard & Patricia Hazel Charitable Fund, Richard A. Henson Foundation, and the Perdue Family Foundation.
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 the 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 canbecome productive and successful citizens.
- Christian Shelter – This grant will support the homeless children after-school program to help the youngsters grow socially and academically. Nearly 300 children are expected to be helped.
- One Year to Empowerment -The 2025 Empoweree Program will help 25 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 will provide after-school resources, technology, learning, and a support center for 30 vulnerable youngsters.
- 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.
- Horizons Delmarva Inc. – This group’s mission is to close the income-driven academic achievement gap that is prevalent in our community through year-round academic engagement and an intense six-week summer learning program using a project-based educational strategy for low-income children in grades one through nine. The Rotary Club of Salisbury grant supports scholarships for first grade students entering the program.
- Epoch Dream Center – About 60 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.
- 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.
- Junior Achievement – This program is called the Junior Achievement Inspire Program and the new grant will support 500 8th grade students in career readiness and financial literacy classes.
- Off Street Sports Performance – This organization is dedicated to empowering, teaching, and supporting underprivileged youth to prepare them for post-graduation success. These after-school and summer programs allow students to receive necessary academic enrichment and tutoring, performance training, and character coaching while thriving in a positive and safe environment during out-of-school hours. All students are required to maintain at least a 2.5 GPA. In 2025, it will provide services to more than 400 students.
- Lower Shore Autism Community – This agency represents a new program for the 3-Point Initiative. It is dedicated to advocating for individuals on the Autism Spectrum and their families, connecting them with resources and information and building a community of mutual support. The Rotary grant will support volunteer appreciation and training. In 2025, this agency will service more than 50 children.
- Pregnancy Care Center of the Eastern Shore – This group is another new agency for the 3-Point Initiative grant program. It provides practical, emotional, and spiritual support to individuals in the community who are facing the challenges of an unintended pregnancy. It mentors teen parents through an evidence-based curriculum called Bright Course. The Rotary Club of Salisbury grant will support the Bright Course program and will serve about 90 young mothers.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore – This group provides evidence-based and professionally supervised mentoring for children ages 6 through 18; training for mentors, parent/guardians, and other community members on a variety of subjects; and enrichment activities for children. As many as 1,000 children will participate this year.
