Giving away $35,000 at lunch may sound unbelievable, but that’s exactly what the Flower Mound Rotary Club did at their recent 8th Annual Celebrating Service Luncheon.
Each year the FM Rotary Club accepts grant requests from nonprofits, and then a committee deliberates long and hard about which groups will receive a check. The grant process is one that ensures every organization has the same opportunity, and no one is overlooked.
“This is one of the greatest things we do as an organization,” said club Past President Lori Fickling. “We can’t grant everyone’s request, but we certainly can impact a great many.”
The club raises money through major fundraising events during the year and selects Denton County nonprofits which have filed grant applications to receive monetary support. This year, 18 local nonprofits received checks in amounts ranging from $500 to $5000, for a grand total of $35,000 given away during the luncheon in May.
This year’s grant winners included: Denton County Friends of the Family; Cross Timbers Family YMCA; the Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County; in addition to 15 other groups.
As much as Flower Mound Rotarians love giving money to deserving groups, they enjoy hands-on projects with the local nonprofits that benefit from their generosity.
“Rotary is about service, and helping fund these organizations that serve the community is the best use of the money we raise. We try to give grants that are large enough to make an impact, rather than giving a few hundred dollars to everyone.”
In the recent past, the FM Rotarians have rehabbed a house for an elderly woman through Hearts for Homes, staffed the CCA Toy Store, started a career center and organized the clothes closet for Friends of the Family, supplied needed school uniforms for students served by Communities In Schools of North Texas, and built a Habitat House, just to name a few projects they’ve taken on for grant winners.
The club always welcomes those interested in learning more about Rotary. The group meets each Thursday at noon at Salerno’s Italian Restaurant on FM 2499 in Flower Mound, and no reservations are required. You can also visit their website at flowermoundrotary.org.
