Rotary Club-Noon awards $13,000 in grants
On Aug. 17, the Rotary Club of Carbondale-Noon convened at Hickory Ridge Golf Course and announced the recipients of grants from its charitable foundation. Organizations with a focus on youth-oriented programs submitted applications for funding. Applicants needed to state how the funds would be used and a brief narrative about their program.
The club’s charitable foundation receives funds from weekly meetings from “fines," which is a fun way for members to make announcements or share good news about significant events in their lives. In addition, the club has hosted a pickleball social and fundraiser, now in its third year and the proceeds from the event are distributed through the foundation. The 2024 pickleball fundraising event will be held Saturday, Oct. 19 at Longfellow Park in Murphysboro, with registration and check-in at 8:30 a.m. It will run until noon. Participants play with a donation of $25.
Awardees are listed below, organized by their respective Rotary Club member sponsors. A representative of the organization is mentioned if one was in attendance.
Sponsor Dr. Ella Lacey
• The I Can Read Program, Dr. Carl Flowers
Sponsor Dr. Sharon Harris-Johnson
• Students and Shelters United, Robert Wigfall
• Wee Care, Patricia Barone and Teresa Bastien
Sponsor Carl Flowers
• Jackson CEO, Christopher Swims
Sponsor Ginger Murray
• CASA of Southern Illinois
Sponsor Gayla Borgononi
• Camp Beta, Dr. Fanta Saidou
Sponsor Faith Miller
• The Little Resource Center of the Gift of Love Charity, Chastity Mays
• Carbondale United, Tequita Douglas, Nancy Maxwell, Marcella Woodson
• SIU Dental Hygiene Program, Dr. Jennifer Sherry
• Carbondale Public Library, Jennifer Robertson
Sponsor Dr. Linda Flowers
• Blessed Hands Community Outreach, Tangela Oliver
Sponsor Jerry Molumby
• The Boys and Girls Scouts of America
• Tri-County Special Education Joint Agreement
The current Rotary Club of Carbondale-Noon presidents are Dr. Sharon Harris-Johnson of Murphysboro and Dr. Carl Flowers. Jan Payne serves as the chairman of the charitable foundation. The Noon Club meets at the Carbondale Park District Building at 925 N. Giant City Rd. on the second and fourth Wednesday.