Rotary Giving by the Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks
It took five days to hear back with RI approval for a covid-related grant for our local community.
The $52,000 grant is for PPEs, medical supplies, and equipment for two local free clinics (Conejo and Westminister) and the Hospice of the Conejo. We have history with them. We know first-hand their needs and how critical, effective, and urgent their response has been to the evil twins of viral threat and economic paralysis.
Rotary International promised to facilitate grants for covid-related needs in local communities. We took RI at its word and were delighted how helpful they were and stunned at how quick their response was.
A relatively old (since 1958) and large Club (114 members), Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks has long been a District 5240 leader in securing grants. In this case, our sister Club in Tijuana, Mexico, was the international sponsor and our Club the grant host.
In 2020 our Clubs celebrate 20 years of cooperation, friendship, and together securing numerous grants, most recently for children’s hearing aids, cancer equipment and supplies, and funding for El Trompo Planetarium in Tijuana.
Our experience at the community level with local charities and internationally with grants and diverse partners was essential. We knew the needs, the players, and the script. But it was the help of Rotarios de Tijuana and Rotary International that made the play successful.
And an added good fortune. Earlier in May, our Club gathered $ 44,000 from member donations, Club reserves and our Club’s affiliated Foundation. This was aimed at nine local charities, carefully vetted and serving the local, desperate needs for food and shelter for children, seniors and the homeless. All of this means that in June we are writing checks for a combined $ 96,000 to serve those most in need in our backyard. Our Rotarians are people of action.
Herbert Gooch, President, Rotary Club of Thousand Oaks
805 551-2940