Coatesville Youth Initiative, Meals on Wheels, HandiCrafters and Community Dental Center given $2,000
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Grant awardees share a moment with leaders of the Coatesville and district Rotary after the chapter presented $2,000 grants to four local organizations, Thursday. From left: Brian Tagliaferro from Handicrafters, Regina Horton Lewis from Chester County Community Dental Center, Coatesville Rotary President Steve Cunningham, Chaya Scott from the Coatesville Youth Initiative, Rotary District 7450 Governor Dave Ellis, Jeani Purcell from Chester County Meals on Wheels and Mike Jacoby, chair of the Coatesville Rotary grants committee.
WEST CALN — The Coatesville Rotary presented four local civic groups with grants of $2,000 Thursday, continuing its work to support local organizations that help build the community.
In front of a packed house at the Coatesville Country Club — as well as Rotary District Governor Dave Ellis — the organization presented grant checks to the Chester County Community Dental Center, The Coatesville Youth Initiative, Meals on Wheels of Chester County and Handicrafters.
“I’d like to thank the Coatesville Rotary for this tremendous blessing,” said Coatesville Youth Initiative Director Chaya Scott. She detailed how the grant was helping to fund the program, which this year has 37 young people from the Coatesville area working at various community sites four days a week and spending the fifth learning leadership skills. “This program is possible because of so many people like you.”
Similar sentiments — and thanks — came from Regina Horton Lewis, the Executive Director of Chester County Community Dental Center.
Rotary District 7450 Governor Dave Ellis (right) congratulates Coatesville Rotary President Steve Cunningham on the continued growth of his chapter, Thursday.
“Your club is second to none in terms of building relationships with the community, raising up those who need help,” she said. “Thanks to your help, we’re able to provide thousands of patients with care.”
Jeani Purcell, Director of Meals on Wheels of Chester County, thanked the group, noting how especially helpful the grant is, as funding is rapidly being outpaced by need as the economy has worsened. That’s forced her organization to tap its reserves to keep operating — feeding those who need help.
Currently, she said there are 30 people in the greater Coatesville area able to use the Meal of Wheels service, with 12 more on a waiting list. Currently, the organization is providing about 7,000 meals a year in the area.
Handicrafters, which provides work opportunities for disabled adults, is now working to fund a retirement opportunity for its workers — to provide an daytime option for the workers at the end of their careers with its Older Adult Daily Living Center, in order to keep them active and engaged once their works days have ended.
“We want to be able to provide a growing number of individuals the opportunity to enjoy the fruits of their labor,” said Handicrafters’ Director of Development, Brian Tagliaferro.
In addition to grant presentation, Coatesville Rotary President Steve Cunningham welcomed new member Brenda McNeil of Waste Oil Recyclers.
The event ended with a presentation from Ellis, who expressed how impressive the chapters sustained growth has been in recent years.
“Coatesville is the only chapter in the district with growth in each of the last five years,” Ellis said. “That’s something to be proud of.”
