Awards Day highlighted the club’s meeting, June 23, 2011. A number of checks to benefit area educational initiatives were distributed. The recipients included:
| Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library – Kim Salyards, the Executive Director for the Catawba County Partnership for Children, accepted the donation. CCPC is the agency responsible for administering this free book subscription for children 0-5. Families can sign up their children by calling the Partnership at 828-695-6505, or go to www.imaginationlibrary.com and enter their zip code to access the Partnership’s page and enrollment form. The cost of sponsoring a single child for one year’s subscription of books is $25. Imagination Library will be our club’s signature education project for the next several years. |
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- Catawba Science Center – Executive Director Alan Barnhardt accepted the check which will be used to sponsor one of the Science Center’s Free Fridays, which open the center to its services and activities to families that would otherwise not be able to afford it.
- Family Care Center – Executive Director Camille Grumman accepted the check, which will be used for tutoring services with the families the agency serves and their children. This will facilitate crucial family involvement skills in education for low income and high risk families.
- Girls on the Run – Bob Conklin, YMCA President and fellow Hickory Rotarian accepted the check. The donation sponsors one girl’s enrollment in this girl fitness and empowerment program.
- Girl Scouts – Our donation will sponsor one girl’s enrollment in the Camp Sunshine program for low income and at risk girls during the summer.
- Hickory Landmarks Society – A check was presented to Executive Director Patrick Daily and will go toward the support of the organization’s annual Heritage Days event that is geared toward elementary students who get to learn firsthand about the history of this community.
- Little Read and LRU’s Visiting Writer’s Series – These checks were presented to program coordinator Dr. Rand Brandes. The Little Read support will go toward the purchase of next year’s Little Read title. The Visiting Writers Series support will go toward the purchase of the books by author Wes Moore (The Other Wes Moore) for a book discussion with students at Hickory High School. Wes Moore will be appearing in Hickory as part of the Visiting Writers Series in September.
- Western Piedmont Symphony – A check was presented to Executive Director Chris Brown, and the donation will be used to support WSP’s Side-by-Side concerts which combine the Western Piedmont Symphony with the Western Piedmont Youth Symphony.
- YMCA Children’s Fund – The check was presented to Bob Conklin and will be in support of the fund that makes it possible for low income families to participate in much needed YMCA programs, especially preschool.
Also two club members received special recognition for their service.
| Clarence Pugh received the Heart of Rotary award for his many years of dedicated service to the club and community. The award was presented by outgoing President Lynn Loehr. |
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John Rambo was recognized as Rotarian of the Year for his extraordinary efforts and guidance, helping to facilitate the club’s successful annual fundraiser for educational initiatives, Rotarian Idol. The award was presented by outgoing President Lynn Loehr. |
