History

The Visalia Rotary Community Foundation was established in 1992. Leaders of the Visalia Rotary Club wished to take action for those left in need from the devastating impact of the 1991 freeze that affected much of Visalia and the surrounding community. Seeing the good that Rotary's International Foundation had done in the world, the Visalia Rotary Community Foundation was established to benefit Visalia and the surrounding community.

1996

The principal of the Foundation's fund reaches the goal of $250,000 set by the Board of Directors. The first grant is made from the general fund in the amount of $2,500.

1997

The Visalia County Center Rotary Club joins the Foundation, thus setting precedent for future Rotary Clubs’ participation in the Foundation.

2000

Vocational Scholarships: The Robert Harrell Career & Technical Educational Scholarships are added to the Foundation thanks to a generous grant of $109,547 from the Harrell family. The initial scholarships given totaled $2,800 and were divided among five individuals. These scholarships are designed for men and women who choose not to pursue a four-year education and who will likely stay in and be productive members of the Visalia community.

2001

The Visalia Breakfast Rotary Club joins the Foundation.

2006

Visalia Rotary Community Foundation’s principal reaches $3,000,000. By the end of 2005, it had awarded total grant and scholarships in the following amounts:

• General grants - $347,600

• Vocational scholarships - $24,900

• Dwelle scholarships - $9,000

• Scholarships from the Visalia Rotary Club - $100,000

• Emergency funds used for the greater Visalia community - $127,800

2007

Visalia Sunset Rotary Club joins the Foundation. The Visalia Rotary Community Foundation responds to another freeze in Visalia by making a grant of $61,000 in emergency funds for freeze relief.

2011

Prominent Visalians Tony and Mary Salierno grant the Foundation $100,000 to establish music scholarships for five high schools in the Visalia area.

2013

Visalia Rotary Community Foundation reached the milestone of having awarded more than $1,000,000 in grants and scholarships. These included $833,000 in general grants, $51,000 in vocational scholarships, $70,000 in the Dwelle scholarship, $234,000 in emergency grants, and $167,463 in four-year scholarships from the Visalia Rotary Club.

2014

Latino Rotary Club of Tulare County joins the Foundation. The five Rotary clubs that now comprise the membership of the Foundation give a broad and diverse approach to the issues facing the Visalia community.

Grants given out totaled $129,000.

Respite House project started with property being identified by Donn Hutton. Fred Scott agreed to begin the designing of the facility. Ken Bryant donated the demolition of the home on the property.

Karl Weiss Fellowship event planned and held on October 2nd at Eric Shannon’s home. Karl Weiss Fellows were recognized. The event was also a fundraiser for ImagineU Museum “Building A Dream” and raised $19,000.

Scholarships: Susan Lucas developed simplified application form for scholarships.

Website being redeveloped by Gerald Schneider and Dru Quesnoy.

End of year financials: $4,557,794.90.

2015

Scholarships: distributed $160,250. New scholarship set up by Marilyn Watson, in memory of Dick Watson. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), 2 scholarships at $2,000 each per year will be distributed.

Grants: $100,000 approved for distribution, 7 grants awarded. Emergency grant given to the Friendship House for $5,000 to repair damages from burglary and replace office equipment. Another emergency grant given to Visalia Emergency Aid in the amount of $8,500 for a freezer.

Respite House: Donn Hutton presented plans for the facility. Kaweah Delta will lease the Respite House for 10 years on a triple net lease which will commence on completion. Developing fundraising campaign to raise funds for construction. Dedicating one unit of the house in memory of Al Fisher, “Al’s Place.” The other unit will be in memory of Sharon Shannon, “Sharon’s Place.” House will be 3,000 square feet +/-. Construction bid awarded to BJ Perch Construction. Board approved cost of $450,000. Groundbreaking was held in October with 110 people in attendance.

End of year financials: $4,52,2332.05.

2016

Scholarships: All scholarships awarded by the committee.

Respite House: Construction started with estimated completion in July. Projected cost $520,000. Sunset Rotary Club is donating the landscaping of the property. Grand opening reception held on September 8 for donors and on September 2 for all Rotarians, city officials, and hospital staff. Donn and Kathy Hutton were recognized for their time and work to purchase the furnishings and supplies to set up the two units. In December the units were being utilized.

Grants: $100,000 total distributed to 10 organizations (over $1.2 million distributed since inception. First recipient was the Bethlehem Center in the amount of $7,500 for playground equipment).

End of year financials: $4,533,702.20.

2017

Scholarships: $32,000 distributed for the Harrell Scholarships; $18,000 for Dwelle College Scholarship Fund; $4,000 for Visalia Rotary Club Scholarships; $5,000 for Provident/Salierno Music School Fund. A new scholarship was submitted: Janet and Bill Nash Scholarship to go to Redwood High School students.

Grants: $1,000 from the Emergency Fund was granted to Mooney Grove Museum to help with repairs from a burglary. Distributed $93,000 in grants.

COS Presidential Scholarship Program: Voted to sponsor 7 scholars from Visalia High Schools by creating an endowment fund of $350,000 earning 4% to provide $154,000 for 7 scholarships of $2,000 each. A fundraising committee was formed. The fundraiser will be the Brewfest, and the foundation and COS will partner on this event.

Brewfest: Planned for September 14, 2017. To be held at COS in the Porter House Gym. Goal is to raise $50,000. Event Grossed $50,850 with a net of $45,857.

Bruce Nicotero voted in as President Elect.

End of year financials: $5,124,659.51.

2018

Scholarships: 8 vocational scholarships awarded and 21 scholarships awarded with 15 of these being administered by COS.

Grants: Bethlehem Center received $15,000. Blanket Ladies awarded $5,000; $10,000 to the Boys and Girls Club; $15,000 given to The Creative Center; YMCA received $10,000 and Visalia Rescue Mission awarded $20,000.

Brewfest: Held on August 2, 2018. Raised $45,000 split 50/50 with COS. 275 attendees at COS Porter House Gym.

Visalia Centennial Celebration committee formed under the leadership of Gerald Schneider.

Ryan Purkiss voted in as President Elect.

End of year financials: $5,137,265.52.

2019

Scholarship: Susan Lucas, the Chair of the Scholarship committee reported they received 28 Dwelle applications, 11 STEM applications, 11 Nash and 7 Provident/Salierno applications. For the first time, received 6 vocational applications from the high schools, these usually only come from COS.

Grants: Distributed 9 grants. Voted to continue to support Monson-Sultana school music program with an annual $5,000 grant.

Brewfest: Held in August in partnership with COS Foundation and raised $53,000. 300 attendees.

Karl Weiss Recognition: A Crystal Award was presented to Ruth Golombek in memory of Peter Golombek for donations made by his estate.

End of year financials: $6,816,206.58.

2020

Scholarships: $1,000 given in vocational scholarships to COS; $4,000 in Nash Scholarships awarded; $20,000 in Dwelle scholarships given out; $4,000 STEM scholarships awarded; $4,000 Provident/Salierno scholarship given out.

Grants: $140,000 approved to be distributed. $120,000 awarded. $25,000 Bethlehem Center; $25,000 Foodlink; $25,000 Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation to support Street Medicine program and purchase a van. $25,000 Visalia Emergency Aid; $10,000 Family Services; $10,000 Senior Gleaners. $10,000 to the Friends of the Fox from the Emergency Fund matching dollars.

Brewfest: Cancelled due to the COVID Pandemic.

Rotary Centennial Celebration: Date set for January 22, 2022. The Visalia Rotary Club is turning 100 and including all clubs in the celebration of the work of Rotary in the community. Project that is the recipient of the celebration is the Rotary Theater. The project is the refurbishing of the theater at a cost of $500,000. The event will be the fundraising vehicle.

Deborah Volosin elected President Elect.

End of year financials: $7,193,728.77.

2021

Grants: Thirteen applications were received requesting a total of $255,000 of which seven applications were chosen to receive a total of $165,000. Arts Visalia $5,000; Golden State YMCA,$20,000; Happy Trails Riding Academy $5,000; Tulare County Child Abuse Prevention Council $10,000; Tulare County Hope for the Homeless $50,000; Visalia Emergency Aid $20,000; Visalia Friends of the Fox Theater $25,000; and Visalia Players $30,000.

Scholarships: Funding for scholarships were: $40,000 from the Harrell Vocational Scholarship Fund, $20,000 from the Dwelle College Scholarship Fund, $5,000 from the Provident/Salierno Music Scholarship Fund, $4,000 from the Watson STEM Scholarship Fund, $14,000 from the COS President's Fund, and $4,000 from the Nash Scholarship Fund.

Special Projects:  T.C. Hope - Phil Homburg delivered the Executive Committee's recommendation to award a grant to T.C. Hope to build the low barrier homeless shelter. The VRCF granted 50,000 a year for five years, beginning this year, 2021, plus the $20,000 granted last year to T.C. Hope for building a low barrier homeless shelter; total of $270,000.

The Rotary Centennial Celebration:  The VRCF pledge of $100,000 for the refurbishing of the Rotary Theater. The goal is to raise $500,000 with $350,000 earmarked for the theater remodel.

Susan and Rick Mangini facilitated the interior design on the remodel of the Rotary Theater. New seats were sold in the theater to raise money. The money supported the renovation of new carpeting, new light fixtures, refurbishing of floors, new seating, repainting of the interior, new stage curtain and a new sign outside the theater.

A historical book on the past 100 years of Rotary in Visalia was published. The event was January 22, 2022.

Financials: The total balance as of December 1, 2021, was $8,004,437.18.

2022

Grants: $185,000 for distribution by the Grant Committee with $50,000 already granted to T C Hope, leaving a net available for distribution of $135,000. $13,000 as follows: Tulare County Hope for the Homeless $50,000 approved already as part of sequence of payments; Gleaning Seniors $20,000; Pro Youth $20,000; Visalia Emergency Aid $10,000; Family Services of Tulare County $25,000; Tulare County Library Foundation $5,000; CASA of Tulare County $23,000; Assistance League $10,000; Golden State YMCA/YMCA Camp Sequoia Lake $15,000; and Able Industries, Inc. $20,000. Imagine U Children’s Museum $25,000, funded through the Emergency Fund.

Emergency Funds: the Grant Committee requested an additional $13,000, toward an emergency grant request from Samaritan Center for air conditioning units that suddenly failed.

Scholarships: Some of the scholarships have a fixed annual distribution amount: Provident/Salierno Music Scholarship Fund - $5,000; Watson STEM Scholarship Fund - $4,000; COS President’s Fund - $14,000; and the Nash Scholarship - $4,000.

The COS President’s Scholars Program was transitioning to the COS Finish Line Scholars Program. Annual support will be $14,000.

Special Projects: Centennial Celebration: grand opening of the remodeled Rotary Theater was held on Monday evening, March 21, 2022. A reception and a short program in the theater recognizing Karl Weiss Fellow recipients and highlighted entertainment by Green Acres Middle School singing some show tunes.

$547,516.04 has been received for Centennial sponsorships as of April, not including the $100,000 from the VRCF.

Respite House: Continues to serve the community under the direction of Kaweah Health.

TC Hope: VRCF Director for T.C. Hope. Dru Quesnoy appointed representative.

Financials: The total balance in all the accounts was $7,079,855.19 as of December 1, 2022.

2023

Grants: Approved total $109,500 and were awarded as follows: Bethlehem Center $25,000; Blanket Ladies – under the umbrella of the Parenting Network $5,000; Kaweah Health Foundation $15,000; Salt + Light $10,000; Visalia Rescue Mission $15,000; Family Services of Tulare County $15,000; Happy Trails $9,500; Boys & Girls Club $15,000.

Scholarships: Nash Scholarship $4000 to Devin Calderon. Dick Watson STEM Scholarship $2,000 to Enrique Martinez. Provident Salierno Music Scholarship $1,000 Each to: Madison Wood, Golden West; Mia Santeliz, El Diamante; Benito Mares, Tulare Union; Devon Calderon, Redwood; Alyssa Sozinho, Redwood.

Special Project: Rotary Theater – Funds in the amount of $96,173.40 were designated to be used to replace the stage lighting. There are funds available for the recognition wall and the landscaping.

TC Hope: The ground breaking for this project was held in April, construction began with a proposed completion date of June 2024.

Events: The first St. Patrick’s Day Blarney Bash was held at Imagine U Museum on March 16th. $10,000 was raised from this event.

Financials:  total assets: $7,258,618.31 as of December 7, 2023.