Jan. 5, 2002
Groups that help the community and youth benefit from the money raised in honor of Samantha Otte, who would have been 12 on Sunday.
Chuck, June and Chris Otte were more than happy to give out an early birthday present this morning.
Through the Quincy Area Community Foundation’s Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund, the Ottes passed out $11,000 in checks to nine organizations during a brief program at the Walter Hammond Day Care.
Samantha Otte, the daughter of Chuck and June, died in March 2000 from complications after a liver transplant.
Sunday would have been Samantha’s 12th birthday.
“Each year we attempt to do this around her birthday,” Chuck Otte said. “It’s a way for all of us, and especially for June, Chris and me, to remember her with her upcoming birthday.”
Volunteers do all the work to raise money for the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund. This year’s Westview Golf Course tournament and Knights of Columbus auction and dinner raised $26,500. First Bankers Trust was the major sponsor and Mary Winters was honorary chairman.
In two years, the fund has given out $19,800.
“It’s great. We are really happy about it,” Chuck Otte said. “Our event this year was very successful. It’s a long process and a lot of hard work and this is what we are doing it for, to help the kids in our community and honoring Samantha.”
The purpose of the fund includes, but is not limited to, support of organizations that maintain and enhance community betterment and artistic, leadership and humanitarian opportunities for young people.
Otte said the Sammy Fund has a five-year goal of building the fund to $75,000 while continuing to make annual distributions.
Next year’s event is being planned for Oct. 20 at Westview and the K of C.
“We’re trying to improve it, and we definitely improved it this past year,” Chuck Otte said. “Now we’re trying to make it even better.”
By Rodney Hart
Herald-Whig Staff Writer