Grants totaling $21,500 issued to youth-oriented groups
During nine years, fund has handed out more than $137,000 to meet 100 requests
Today’s Sammy Fund Grant Recipients:
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Adams County for one-on-one mentoring relationships
Cornerstone: Foundations for Families for youth service programs
Girl Scouts of Two Rivers Council for membership assistance, outreach programming and “campership” support
Quincy Herald-Whig Good News of Christmas to fulfill wish list for a family of four
Jackson-Lincoln Swimming Complex to fund scholarship program for children who can’t afford pool fees and to sponsor Family Fun Nights
John Wood Community College Foundation for summer Children’s College tuition waivers for income eligible children
Panther-Pride Foundation for Adams County Academic Success Initiative to help implement the “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” program in all Adams County schools
Quincy Community Theatre for outreach programming in Adams County schools
Quincy Family YMCA for swim lessons for Head Start students from the Early Childhood Education Center
Quincy Symphony Orchestra for need-based tuition waivers for young singers to participate in the Quincy Area Youth Chorus
Sheridan Swim Team for fees for income eligible children to take swim lessons
YWCA of Quincy for three sessions of Catch Me if You Can Running and Leadership Academy for girls in TeenReach and Supportive Housing program, and to support the Quincy High School PSAE/ACT Test Prep Project by buying calculators, food and incentives for study skills preparation program
Family and friends honored Samantha Otte’s memory this morning by presenting $21,500 to 12 youth-oriented organizations.
It marked the ninth year for the grants. Samantha died at age 10 in March 2000 after a liver transplant necessitated by cystic fibrosis.
Jill Arnold Blickhan, executive director of the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area, said the 12 grants from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund will touch the lives of hundreds of area children.
Nearly 100 grants totaling $137,535 have been distributed from the fund since it was established in 2000. The primary purpose of the fund is to support organizations that maintain and enhance community betterment and artistic, leadership and humanitarian opportunities for young people.
The Sammy Fund is supported by the annual Sammy Event in October, organized by a group of family and friends. Samantha’s parents, Chuck and June Otte, emphasize that the Sammy Fund group deserves credit for the Sammy Event’s success. This core of dedicated people spearheads the efforts of more than 100 volunteers.
The event includes a run/walk, golf tournament, auction and dinner. A portion of the proceeds from the annual event, memorial gifts and other donations are added to the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund, enabling it to grow and make annual grant distributions. The Sammy Fund also retains a portion for other youth-oriented needs.
First Bankers Trust Co. has served as major sponsor of the event from its start. Refreshment Services Pepsi, the Quincy Herald-Whig, WGEM and County Market are also major sponsors.
Harold and Ann Knapheide served as the Sammy Event’s 2008 honorary chairmen.