Alexandria — The Rotary Club of Alexandria, in partnership with the Alexandria Day Nursery and Children's Home, continued its decades-long tradition of awarding grants to local nonprofit organizations with the presentation of $92,000 to 32 organizations at the annual Contributions Day luncheon June 12 at Belle Haven Country Club.

“Today is a wonderful day that exemplifies what Rotary is about,” said president John Woods, “when all that we think, say or do is about the community.”

The Alexandria Rotary Foundation, funded through events such as the signature Taste For Giving gala, donated $43,000 to local organizations dedicated to serving an array of needs in the community. Alexandria Day Nursery and Children's Home, originally established in the 1930s as part of the Rotary Club, awarded $49,000 to nonprofits primarily focusing on the needs of children.

"It's such a great pleasure when we see the culmination of the work that started with A Taste For Giving,” said Rotary Foundation director Ted Stark.

Each year local organizations apply for a Rotary Club Community Grant. The applications are reviewed with consideration given to the sustainability of the project, how it is helping those most in need, and how the project contributes to the community.

"We really want to honor all the charities for the work they do and make sure that we help them to continue their great works,” said A Taste for Giving 2012 chair Steve Wharton. “They all show the 'Service Above Self' spirit that we at Rotary live by."

The 32 Alexandria organizations that received $92,000 from The Alexandria Rotary Club include: The Center for Alexandria's Children; Friends of Guest House ; Alexandria Seaport Foundation; Campagna Center; First Night Alexandria; Alexandria Symphony Orchestra; Carpenter's Shelter; Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services; ALIVE!; Goodwin House; Child and Family Network Centers; Community Lodgings; SCAN of Northern Virginia; Scholarship Fund of Alexandria; Alexandria Tutoring Consortium; Alexandria Choral Society; Senior Services of Alexandria; Books in Home; Wright to Read; Senior Employment Resources; PRS; Operation Warm; Computer C.O.R.E.; National Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts; Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless; Beverley Hills Church Preschool; Fairlington Preschool; Grace Episcopal School; Resurrection Children's Center; Valley Drive Cooperative Preschool; The Westminster Preschool ; and K.I. Services.

For more information on The Rotary Club of Alexandria, visit www.alexandriarotary.com. For information on A Taste For Giving, visit www.tasteforgiving.org.