By Brandi McGrath Kong, Director of Communications & Conferences
 

The Sertoma Club Grant Program is returning for its third year, aimed at helping clubs enhance their community impact by supporting their own service programs or those of other local initiatives. This program was designed to give members a platform to showcase the positive work they are doing in their communities.

Applications for this year’s program opened on September 1. Grants of up to $2,000 are available for any qualifying charitable program run by a 501(c)(3) community organization or Sertoma club. These nonprofits can be related to nearly any cause and is not limited to only hearing health organizations Some examples of grants awarded in 2023 include:

• Hillsboro Breakfast Sertoma Club provided materials to speech and language therapists at Hillsboro to treat individuals aged one year through adulthood. They also made a supplies donation to speech and language teachers at Beckemeyer Elementary School
• Womens Sertoma of Venice distributed wrapped presents and meal gift certificates during the holiday season to 20 families at four local elementary schools.
• The Gleneagle Sertoma Club sponsored cars for two youth participants in the Pikes Peak Soap Box Derby. Other club members also joined in by purchasing cars representing their businesses and making financial contribution to the derby.
• North Augusta Sertoma Club matched its 2023 club grant to give $4,000 to the Piedmont Augusta Speech and Hearing Center. The center used the funds to offer ongoing education for clinicians aimed at enhancing diagnostic skills for children and infants with hearing loss, deafness, and autism. Additionally, the grant supported the purchase of necessary therapy software updates and custom earmolds for five low-income individuals.
• Gulf Breeze Sertoma Club was another club that put the grant toward a larger donation. The club gave $8,000 to the Speech and Hearing Board to help the nonprofit further expand its treatment of those in need in their shared community.
• The Platte Canyon Sertoma Club used their grant to support the Field of Dreams weekend baseball event, which serves hearing-impaired children in the Denver metropolitan area.

If your club received a grant last fall and has not yet submitted its summary, a report is required to apply for a grant this year. Summaries must be received by October 10.

For more details about the Club Grant Program, including eligibility requirements and the online application, visit sertoma.org/club-grant.

 

Gleneagle Sertoma Club: Pikes Peak Soap Box Derby                                                                              Platte Canyon Sertoma Club: Field of Dreams