A few months ago, I was hanging out downtown chatting with a newer resident of Livermore. I was telling him the history of First Street and how it used to be a federal highway with no character or any of the wonderful features it has now (except the flagpole). He said something that stuck with me: “Livermore is a very nice place to live and that doesn’t happen by accident." Wow, how right he is! Livermore is the best place to live, in my opinion. Our community is vibrant, loving, and full of success stories.
As Rotarians, we share the mantra “Service Above Self." I am honored to be able to volunteer where needed. I am proud to raise money to fund important programs in the Tri-Valley and around the world. Livermore is the best because of the people who live here. We should all be proud of where we live.
I encourage you to volunteer your time and donate when and where you can. As the saying goes, it takes a village - everyone coming together for the good of our community, helping each other. Respecting each others' differences and showing kindness are just a few ways we can make a difference.
I would also like to thank all the men and women who have stepped up to protect our freedom. On Memorial Day, especially, we thank you for your service, and we express our ultimate gratitude to those who gave their lives for our freedom.
We meet Tuesday mornings, gathering at 8:00 and ringing the bell to start the meeting at 8:15 AM.
Meetings are in person at Las Positas College, 3000 Campus Hill Drive, Livermore, in Building 3300, the new Horticulture Center. Parking is in Lot J.
KEVIN DRAKE SCHOLARSHIP
DONATE THIS MONTH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP WITH C.H.E.F.
We invite you to donate to the Kevin Drake Scholarship fund by May 31, so that your donation can be matched by 50%! Our goal is to raise $30,000 this month!
The Rotary Club of Livermore Valley has established the Kevin Drake Scholarship in partnership with The Pedrozzi Foundation. This month, we are also partnering with the Community Health and Education Fund, CHEF, to enable us to make our donation dollars go further.
For every $2 donated, up to $20,000 total, CHEF will also donate $1, up to $10,000. At the end of May, CHEF will donate the money to the Pedrozzi Foundation, to help endow the Kevin Drake Scholarship.
You may write a check or donate online using your credit card or Paypal (with no service fee).
If you prefer to write a check, please make the check payable to CHEF, and indicate "Kevin Drake Scholarship" in the memo line. Please mail your check to:
Community Health and Education Fund (CHEF)
P.O. Box 420
Livermore, CA 94551
Our goal is to raise $100,000, to fully endow the scholarship, which means that it will provide a 4-year scholarship to a graduating student every year, into perpetuity. You can help make that happen this month!
Principal Clark Conover introduced us to Grace Peterson, whose passion for learning and pursuit of academic rigor have fueled her studies in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Granada High School. With a GPA of 4.47, she excels as a student.
Grace is also an athlete on the GHS Lacrosse team and she is a competitive fencer. She is co-president of the Granada UNICEF Club and a member of the Humans Against Hate Club. She has led fundraising events for domestic violence awareness and she volunteers with the Library of Congress.
Grace said that she has learned so much about being a good citizen from both Granada and the City of Livermore. She thanked our club for this honor, saying it underscores the importance of giving back to the community.
Grace will be attending NYU in the fall, where she will study International Relations.
Pictured below: Principal Clark Conover, Grace Peterson, Past President Kevin McCallum
Once again, we joined with other Livermore Rotarians to participate in the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore's Annual Gift of Reading Program. Each of the 923 third graders in Livermore schools has a new hardcover literature novel, thanks to the generosity of RFL.
With great anticipation, students received their books when Rotarians visited their school libraries in April. A third grade teacher from Arroyo Seco Elementary shared, “The books inspired the students to read willingly and voraciously. The shared experience of having the same book encouraged the reluctant readers to show interest in a way they don’t usually.”
Recognizing that success in education is critically linked to success in reading, the RFL’s “Gift of Reading” project helps cultivate a love of reading among third graders in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District. This year, in partnership with Towne Center Books, RFL invited students to choose their favorite of three titles selected by 3rd grade teachers and the Elementary Library Specialists. In February, students came to their libraries to learn about the choices and selected either El Deafo, by Cece Bell, The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown, or Willodeen, by Katherine Applegate.
Here are a few moments showing Rotarians at work on our favorite service project.
Below: Roy Porfido gives The Wild Robot to a student at Smith Elementary School.
Below: Mark Hudson, Bennie Le Bourvellec, Suzanne Richerson, and Jackie Mirisciotta pose beside the "Thank You" poster created by Sunset Elementary third graders. Each Rotarian also received a plant and some Reese's Pieces as a thank you!
Below, students check out their personalized bookplates in their new books.
Below: excited students at Sunset Elementary show off their new books.
Below: Ms. Martinez's class at Marylin Ave School poses with their books and their RFL Ambassadors.
ROTARIAN FOUNDATION OF LIVERMORE COMMUNITY GRANTS AWARDED
Our club was proud to join with the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore (RFL) and the Livermore (Noon) Club to award over $206,000 in grants to 28 local organizations, nonprofits, and schools.
“These grants are about believing in our neighbors' potential and the transformative ideas they bring to the table. By providing these grants, we are investing in the future of Livermore, ensuring that our community continues to thrive and grow in ways that reflect our shared values of service, compassion, and excellence,” said Bassant Abdelrahman, RFL President and Livermore Valley Club Member.
The 2024 Community Grant Award recipients included $10,000 donations to
Ambassadors of Compassion, for their emotional resilience program in LVJUSD schools
Axis Community Health, for expanding access to care with the new 2nd Street Clinic
Exceptional Needs Network, to support Special Needs Camp
Hively, for the Early Childhood Literacy Family Book Club
LARPD Foundation, to help fund the Community Support Program
Las Positas College Foundation, for the Marylin Ave STEAM Academy Summer Camp at Las Positas College
Livermore Valley Arts, for the 2024 Cultural Celebration Series
Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, to support the purchase of a computer-controlled projector for the planetarium
Open Heart Kitchen, for the Community Meal Program
Partners for Change, for their work empowering community members through transformative education and mentorship
Reins in Motion, for a new grooming stall
Teen Esteem, to provide classroom presentations and assemblies in Livermore that teach students respect, empowerment, kindness, and connection
Tri-Valley Conservancy, for the Youth in Nature Program
Tri-Valley Haven, to provide vital food items for Tri-Valley individuals and families in need
Veterans First Program at Las Positas College, to support Operation Gateway for new student veterans
Additional grants, bringing the total awards to $206,156 went to:
Assistance League Amador Valley
Christensen Middle School AVID Program
Culinary Angels
East Bay Innovations
HERS Breast Cancer Foundation
Hope Hospice
Humane Sleep Project
Livermore Valley Opera
Marylin Ave STEAM Academy
SPARC
Sunflower Hill
Tri-Valley Nonprofit Alliance
Tri-Valley REACH
Thanks to the Livermore Valley Education Foundation (LVEF) for their ongoing partnership in sharing the support of our local schools!
Pictured below: Sally Esser (LVEF), Joanna Martinez (Marylin Ave STEAM School), Mary Anne Rozsa (Livermore Club Sponsor), Philomena Rambo (Grant Co-Chair & Livermore Valley Club Member)
Pictured below: Beth McCormick (Livermore Valley Club Sponsor), Kenneth Cooper (Las Positas College Foundation Executive Director), Jeff Youngsma (Grant Co-Chair & Livermore Club Member), Philomena Rambo
Pictured below: Philomena Rambo, Rich Goldstein (Livermore Valley Club Sponsor), Eric Hannah (Ambassadors of Compassion Founder & CEO), Jeff Youngsma
Remember to check out the upcoming events listed on our website and in the ClubRunner mobile app. Events listings include everything you need to know including a Google Maps link! Click on the date's hyperlink for more information.
SAVE THE DATES!
