Fund Raising

For the first ten years (1993-2003), our club has held an auction at the Elks Club in Cottage Grove and more recently (2004-2005) at the newly completed Cottage Grove High School. This is our primary fund raising event. To help maximize revenue to fund several projects shown below we hold an evening auction in which we provide a dinner, raffle, silent and oral auction. Typically, $19,000-$20,000 has been raised in this one day event; however in 2005 we reached a new high of over $31,000. The following five projects shown below are the primary beneficiaries of this event.

Family Relief Nursery

In 1993 several Rotarians and community minded citizens joined together to form a non-profit organization designed to prevent child abuse and neglect through strengthening families under stress. The Nursery was formed as a result of two high-profile child abuse cases in Cottage Grove and was modeled after the nationally recognized Eugene (Oregon) Relief Nursery. This proven program which was started with an initial grant of $5,000 by our club was able to leverage over $180,000 in a federal start-up grant that lasted for three years. The nursery provides home based visits and early childhood therapeutic development for infants and toddlers through age 3 plus parenting classes and support. Since 1993, the Cottage Grove Rotary Club has contributed over $23,000 towards this project with Rotarians still on its Board. The Nursery has eight paid staff members with an annual budget of over $235,000 and they are currently serving 35 children.

High School Scholarships

Started in 1983, the Cottage Grove Rotary Club has hosted the annual awards night at the Cottage Grove High School and has provided a minimum of five $1,000 scholarships annually to graduating seniors. Scholarships are based on merit and leadership skills. In addition to funding our annual program, our long-term goal of establishing a permanent Scholarship Endowment Fund became a reality. In 2003, the club set aside $35,000 into the Cottage Grove Community Foundation and is being professionally managed by the Oregon Community Foundation. Our goal is to reach $100,000. To date this fund has increased in value to almost $65,000.

Community Children's Christmas Party

Started in 1984, our club hosts an annual benefit for children in the community. We provide refreshments, pictures with Santa, games with prizes, Christmas trees with decorations and entertainment for every child attending. This event began in the Cottage Grove Armory and grew so large that in 1999 we relocated the event to the Bohemia Elementary School. Attendance averages 400-700 adults and children. This is our largest single annual project and requires the club's full participation.

Homeless Prevention Project

Each year, local agencies identify many Cottage Grove families with school-aged children who are temporarily homeless - living in motels, trailers, campers, with friends or relatives - anywhere but "home". These families lack monies required not only to rent "a home", but may lose a home because of layoffs from work or the need to provide basic necessities such as food or energy assistance to meet utility bills in the Winter. Working through Community Sharing, this project seeks to address all these needs to make living a little easier.

River Road Clean-up Project

Several years ago, the club adopted a one-mile stretch of River Road in Cottage Grove as a service project to clean up litter and trash that collects in this area. The road, which runs through town and parallels the Coast Fork of the Willamette River, is cleaned four times a year. Club members don safety vests, bags, gloves and a lot of enthusiasm to keep this part of town in pristine condition.

Kid Care Identification Project

Started In 2002, our club initiated a new program, providing parents of school age children K-5 an identification packet that can be provided law enforcement agencies in the event a child should turn up missing. The packet includes personal information, a current photograph and fingerprints, with parent's permission. This project was coordinated through the South Lane School District and was co-sponsored by Bauder & Young Insurance Agency, whose owner is one of our members. Over 500 children were provided these packets in the six elementary schools in South Lane County.