Rotary Club offers $25,000 grant to help nonprofits

By BEN STORROW Staff Writer

Published on October 30, 2009

The Rotary Club of Amherst has a long list of philanthropic achievements: it provides scholarships to area students and makes donations to whole host of local organizations ranging from the Belchertown Emergency Medical Services to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. It is now attempting to help area non-profits that are struggling because of a sour economy.

The RCA announced a new $25,000 Community Grant Tuesday, an award that the group's president Greg Boisseau said he hoped would become an annual happening for the Amherst group. The new grant is largely an outgrowth of the organization's auction, the Amherst Rotary Auction, which Boisseau estimated raised $28,000 last year. The club is now preparing for this year's event, which will be held on Nov. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 14 from noon to 9:30 p.m.

"We really want to posture ourselves as a major community contributor," Boisseau said in a phone interview Tuesday. "We see this as a way of doing such a thing. We want to provide back a major sum."

Local nonprofits or civic organizations working on a community project will be eligible to receive the grant, Boisseau said. The group will accept applications from local organizations and determine the winner based on which project makes the greatest impact in the community.

Bruce McInnis, a rotary club member, said that auction purchases will provide a direct boost to local nonprofits.

"It's important for people to know that the people who supported this auction last year, combined with our other fundraisers, enabled us to offer a new community grant," McInnis said. "Because this auction is a success, they are contributing to local nonprofits who are having trouble fundraising in this tough economy."

State Rep. ellen Story, D-Amherst, and a RCA member herself, agreed.

"The fiscal situation on the part of the state couldn't be worse right now," Story said. She said the RCA had switched from its annual Teddy Bear Fair to an auction in the past few years, as the latter allowed the group to raise more money for charity.

The auction itself has played a crucial role in the organization's ability to fund local organizations trying to make a difference in the community, Boisseau said.

"The more successful our auction is, coupled with our other fundraisers, equals more money we are able to give back to the community," Boisseau said.

This year's auction will include 375 items that have an estimated value of $60,000. A sampling of this year's items include an African safari, UMass athletic tickets, a series of small vacation packages in New York City, Vermont, Virginia and the voice of WFCR radioman Bob Paquette on someone's home answering machine. Boisseau said that rotary club members solicited the donations from individuals and organizations. All the proceeds from the event will go towards the grant and the club's other philanthropic initiatives.

The auction will be televised on Amherst Community Television Channel 12. Individuals can currently see and bid on items online at www.amherstrotaryclub.org/auction. Those wishing to place a bid during the live TV auction can call 256-0111 to place a bid.

An Auction Preview Party will be held on Friday, November 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.. Those wishing to attended should call 413-549-0690 for more information. For more information on the auction itself contact Ed Severance at 374-1289.