Representatives from 25 Columbia area community organizations who were recently awarded grants by the Spring Valley Rotary Club. A total of $29,000 was given by the club this year to support local non- profit organizations. The Rotary Club of Spring Valley awarded grants totaling $29,000 to 25 local non- profit organizations at a recent club meeting. The awards were made possible through the success of the club's annual pecan sale with 100% of the proceeds from the annual fundraiser being returned to the community. "Our members were thrilled with the success of our fundraising efforts this year and are proud to support so many worthy organizations," said club president Stan Luallin.

Recipients of the community grants included: Alzheimer's Association, Bethany Christian Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, Indian Waters Council Boy Scouts of America, Calhoun Salkehatchie Camp, Capital Senior Center, Columbia Classical Ballet, Epworth Children's Home, The Free Medical Clinic, Harvest Hope, Heartworks Ministry/Jubilee Academy, House of Heroes, Killingsworth Home, Kelly Mill Middle School- Boys to Mens Club, Meals on Wheels, Palmetto Animal Assisted Lifes Services (PAALS), Palmetto Health Children's Hospital, Palmetto Place Children's Shelter, Richland County Sheriff's Department's DARE program and Project Hope, Rotary CART Fund, Rotary Foundation, Sandhill Farmer's Market, SC Transitional College, Sistercare, and Special Olympics. In addition to these community grants seven area Richland District 2 high school seniors were each awarded $1,000 scholarships at the club's meeting on May 21.

The Rotary Club of Spring Valley was founded in 1978 and has over 100 members dedicated to implementing the ideals of Rotary in Northeast Columbia and its surrounding areas. Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. For more information about the international body of Rotary, please visit Rotary.org.

The Spring Valley Rotary club meets every Thursday from 1 to 2 pm in the Grand Hall of Northeast Presbyterian Church on Polo Road. To learn more about membership in the club visit www.springvalleyrotary.com or contact David Boucher at (803) 264-3256 or by email at david.boucher@bcbssc.com.