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 more than $90,000 to 32 organizations at the annual Contributions Day luncheon June 17 at Belle Haven Country Club.

“The funds donated back to the community by the Rotary Club Foundation come directly from our signature Taste For Giving event,” said Rotary Club president Peter Knetemann of the organization's traditional fall fundraiser. “Because of the generosity of our local restaurants and auction donors, all of our revenue from that event is able to benefit local Alexandria charities.”

The Alexandria Rotary Foundation donated funds to local organizations dedicated to serving an array of needs in the community. The Alexandria Day Nursery and Children's Home, originally established in the 1930s as part of the Rotary Club, awarded grants to nonprofits primarily focusing on the needs of children.

“Local charities are invited to submit a request for funding to the club's contributions committee,” Knetemann said. “This typically happens in February and March. The committee then makes recommendations to the RCA board and funds raised at the Taste For Giving are earmarked and distributed in June as a result.”

Rotary Club Community Grant 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.

Organizations receiving funds this year include: ALIVE!; Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services; Alexandria Police Youth Camp; Alexandria Symphony Orchestra; Alexandria Seaport Foundation; Alexandria Tutoring Consortium; Beverley Hills Church Preschool; Brain Injury Services; The Campagna Center; Carpenter's Shelter; Center for Alexandria's Children; Child and Development Center; Child & Family Network Centers; Community Lodgings; Computer C.O.R.E.; Fairlington Preschool; First Night Alexandria; Friends of Guest House; Grace Episcopal School; The Meeting House Cooperative Preschool; Rebuilding Together Alexandria; Resurrection Children's Center; St. Clement Episcopal School; SCAN of Northern Virginia; Scholarship Fund of Alexandria; Senior Services of Alexandria; Space of Her Own; Valley Drive Cooperative Preschool; Washington Street United Methodist Church Preschool; Westminster Weekday Preschool, and Wright to Read.

“Rotary International seeks to have Rotary Clubs reach out on a local level to provide humanitarian aid and seed money to benefit the elderly, disadvantaged youth, the poor, sick, hungry and others in need,” Knetemann explained. “Through Taste For Giving, which will be held this year on Oct. 24 and chaired by John Renner, we are able to connect club members as well as the citizens and restaurants of Alexandria to our community's most needy. For everyone involved, this truly exemplifies Rotary's mission of 'Service Above Self.'”

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