Enterprise Rotary Club gives $19,000 to community groups

Twenty area organizations received donations totalling $19,000 from the Enterprise Rotary Club Tuesday and Rotary Allocations Committee Chairman Bob Helms made the presentations on behalf of the club.

Boy Scouts of America Field Director Scott Hill accepted a donation that will be used to support the Boy Scout program in Coffee County, and in particular to help with recruitment expenses.

A donation was made to the Enterprise City Schools to support The Children Without Fund and Alabama Boys State/Girls State. Accepting the donation were Jonathan Quisenberry and Katherine Cordona.

The goal of the Christian Mission Centers is to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of people.

“During these challenging economic times there has been more demand than ever to provide food for those who have nothing,” Helms said. “This year’s donation will be used to purchase food.”

Fellow Rotarian and Executive Director of the Christian Mission the Rev. John Belcher accepted the donation. The purpose of the Coffee County Arts Alliance to sponsor visual, performing, and literary arts in the community, to challenge and encourage children and adults to develop their talents and creativity, and to unite all of Coffee County in promoting the arts, Helms explained. David Deal and Suzanne Sawyer accepted the Rotary donation on behalf of the organization.

Coffee County Habitat for Humanity works in partnership with people from all walks of life to build and renovate homes in the county.

“Since the first groundbreaking in October of 2000, nine homes have been completed and there are four homes scheduled for completion during 2009,” Helms said as he presented the donation to fellow Rotarian Charlene Goolsby.

The Coffee County Extension Service is charged with administering the county 4-H and other educational programs, Helms said.

“This year’s donation will be used to support general 4-H programs, 4-H Livestock programs, and the Coffee County Health Initiative.”

Coffee County Extension Coordinator Stan Windham accepted the award. College Street Elementary School parent Darla Grubb and school principal Twyla Pipkin accepted the donation for the school’s “Outdoor Classroom.”

This project will transform a semi-shaded area beside the school into an inviting Outdoor Classroom,” Helms said. “By providing hands-onlearning, this outdoor classroom will supplement and enhance traditional teaching.”

Mo Sessions accepted the donation on behalf of the Enterprise Christian Youth Camp. This organization provides an annual camp for abused and emotionally- disturbed children. In July, they will conduct their seventh camp. With the assistance of DHR and trained professionals, about 30 children between ages 10 and 12 will participate in this camp.

The Enterprise Rotary Club Playground, in Henderson Park, provides a place for children of all physical abilities to play together. Improvements to the playground are in the planning phase, and this donation will go toward the expense associated with improvements, Helms said, adding that Rotarian Earline Varney chairs the playground committee.

The mission of the YMCA is “to serve all people, to strengthen the body, mind and spirit through quality programs, facilities, and services; to promote Christian values and to encourage individuals and families to reach their full potential in the community,” Helms told the group. Accepting the donation, which will be used to support the expenses associated with providing these services, was Rotarian and YMCA Director Richard Pipkin. Dr. Judy Miller accepted the Rotary donation for the EOCC Foundation Rotary Scholarship.

Helms explained the foundation’s mission “is to promote, sponsor and carry out broader educational opportunities at the Enterprise-Ozark Community College.” Harold Myers accepted the donation for the Individual & Family Support Council.

The council’s mission is to provide service and support for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, Helms said. “This donation will be used to meet basic human needs of local applicants the local council determines deserving of their support,” he said. “The goal of Log-A -Load for Kids is to unite our state in a common effort to benefit Alabama’s critically ill, injured and abused children. “Since its inception in 1992, LALFK has disbursed more than $6 million dollars in support of Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.”

Accepting the donation was Mark Byal. Warren Bowron accepted the donation on behalf of the Special Olympics, whose mission is to support those individuals with special needs in Coffee and Dale Counties. The two programs in which they are most involved are the Unified Bowling Tournament and the Special Olympic Track and Field event.

The mission of Vivian B. Adams School is to support persons with mental retardation, to develop and to have as personally successful and independent life as possible, Helms said. “They provide service to six counties: Coffee, Dale, Houston, Henry, Pike and Barbour,” Helms said.

The Rotary donation, which was accepted by Adams School Support Services Director Hannah Parker, will be used to help purchase a new sound system and for other expenses associated with fulfilling their mission, Helms said. The mission of Wiregrass Honor Flight is to identify World War II veterans living in the Wiregrass and flying those who would like to go to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II memorial, free of charge to the veterans.

The first Wiregrass Flight will be on May 9, Helms said. “This donation will be used to pay for Enterprise veterans to make the trip.” Accepting the donation was Mike Abbott, husband of Enterprise Rotarian Carol Abbott. Fellow Rotarian and Wiregrass United Way Area Manager Mindy Collier accepted the donation on behalf of the United Way which serves 37 charitable Wiregrass organizations.

Helms said this donation will go toward the Coffee County goal, and will be used to support the many programs of the Wiregrass United Way. Kelsie Jennings, president of the The Jerry B. Brunson Enterprise Rotary Club Foundation Board of Directors, accepted the donation to the foundation, which is a non-profit organization created to support Enterprise Rotary Club activities.

“Several years ago our club voted to make annual contributions to the foundation from proceeds of our annual $10K fundraiser,” Helms said. “This year, just over 25 percent of the money given away will go to support our own Foundation.”

Not present, but also receiving a donation, was the Alabama Child Caring Foundation, whose mission is to provide immediate and ongoing medical coverage for needy, uninsured children who do not qualify for governmental health programs and cannot afford dependent medical coverage, Helms explained.

“This donation will be matched by Blue Cross and Blue Shield to provide insurance coverage for 10 Coffee County children currently on the ACCF waiting list. “

The Wiregrass Youth Symphony Orchestra received a donation to be used to provide a partial scholarship for an Enterprise resident who would not otherwise be able to participate in this program.

“The mission statement of the Tri-State Community Orchestra is to recognize the important role that the study of music plays in the development of life skills,” said Helms. “The Wiregrass Youth Symphony Orchestra’s goal is to ‘Enrich Wiregrass Youth with a Positive Note.’”

Alabama’s Special Camp for Children and Adults, whose mission is to help eligible individuals with disabilities and/or health impairments achieve equality, dignity, and maximum independence, also received a Rotary donation and will be recognized next month when Allison Wetherbee, author and Camp ASCCA -public relations director, will speak to the club, Helms said.