OP ESpoke for the Week of March 13, 2023 (Mar 10, 2023)

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING

Monday, March 13, 2023

Doubletree Hotel

Sedona Room

Miles Manney, West Point Cadet

CPRC Hometown Visit

Set-up/Greeter: Jeff Ellis

Moment of Inspiration: Donna Lauffer

Classification Talk: Emerson Hartzler

THANK YOU ROTARY CARES

Dear Michael,

I want to take a moment to thank you, your wife Barbara, and the entire Rotary Club for supporting Synergy Services through in-kind donations. Synergy Services is a non-profit organization whose mission is "heal trauma and build resilience in individuals to create strong families and safe communities." With community partners like you, we are better able to achieve our mission.

I want to thank you for reaching out to Synergy in 2020. At that time I had no idea what a truly amazing impact you would have on our organization, specifically the domestic violence services programs. Through donations of hand sanitizer, laundry detergent, medicine, children's books and toys, food/snacks, Avon make-up (to name just a few) you have helped us provide better services to the women and children residing in our programs.

It is impossible to know the total value of what you have provided to Synergy Services, although in late 2022-March 2023 I attempted to track some of these items. It is my estimate that Synergy Services received approximately $85,000 worth of in-kind donations during that 5 month time frame. It is important to point out that although many of these items may not be considered "essential items", every single thing I have gotten from you and your organization has helped improved the quality of life to the clients served in our Synergy programs. The ability for children in the domestic violence shelter to have access to brand new Marvel books, for women to have access to new AVON makeup and lotion, for children to have new toys to play with.... these are ways you are making a difference every single day! Plus the thousands of dollars we save as an agency on laundry detergent (due to your donations) allows us to allocate those funds to clients services and help even more people fleeing domestic violence.

Thank you for sharing with Synergy Services!! Your kindness and genuine desire to help our KC community is an amazing gift- I am so thankful to have met you and continue to work with you. You are the BEST!!!

Sincerely,

Tara Syndergaard

Synergy Services, Inc.

Volunteer and Operations Manager

OPRF Spring Grant Application

The Overland Park Rotary Foundation on behalf of the Overland Park Rotary Club plans to award one $5000 grant to a community organization or agency in the Kansas City metro that provide human services/human need to members of our communities.

The following is the official application and guidelines that would pertain to all Overland Park Rotary Club members and outside requests, which was adopted by the Overland Park Foundation Board.

An application must be from an Overland Park Rotary Club member in good standing or from a community organization or community agency that must be sponsored by an Overland Park Rotary Club member in good standing. An organization or agency who has received funding from the Overland Park Rotary Foundation within the past five years will not be eligible for a Spring 2023 grant award.

The application for a $5000 grant from the Overland Park Rotary Foundation Board should submit in writing the nature of the request to include/address the following:

An explanation reflecting the alignment with objectives of the funding to provide human services/human need or relief within the Kansas City Metro
A specific description of how the funds will be used
A timeframe describing when and how the funds will be used
A description of the organization or individuals receiving the funds

Note: grant recipients are expected to provide a written report to the Overland Park Rotary Foundation Board, as well as a presentation to the Overland Park Rotary Club, on the impact those funds had within 12 months from receiving the funds.

Each submitted grant application must include the name of the Overland Park Rotarian who is serving as the sponsor. Grant applications for 2023 must be submitted on or before Sunday, May 14, 2023. Questions can be directed to Erik Rome at erik.rome@gmail.com or (913) 568-8599.

Completed applications can be submitted to Erik Rome via email at erik.rome@gmail.com or they can be mailed to:

Overland Park Rotary Foundation

Attention: 2023 Spring Grant Application

PO Box 7558

Overland Park, KS 66207

Upon review by the Overland Park Rotary Foundation Board, applicants will be notified of decisions after May 22, 2023. Those who are selected to receive grants will be awarded funds on Monday June 19, 2023 during the regular meeting of the Overland Park Rotary Club and will hopefully can attend the meeting for acknowledgement.