Manteca area non-profits were gifted over $50,000 by the Sunrise Kiwanis Club.
The checks distributed Thursday at the Manteca Senior Center represented part of the proceeds from the 2018 downtown Manteca Pumpkin Fair. The annual October event has generated $1,091,000 for non-profits during the past 35 years.
At the formal “Community Night of Giving” a check for $1,500 that went to Kimberlie Gamino of the Camp Taylor facility for children with heart defects located near banks of the Stanislaus River.
Gamino founded the camp that is named after her son Taylor who went through a successful open-heart surgery. The camp is designed and staffed specifically for youth in the Northern San Joaquin Valley who are dealing with heart related issues..
Kiwanis President Joann Beattie opened the reception greeting her guests saying, “let us help you with your many active projects in the community”.
Chuck Crutchfield acted as the master of ceremonies for the evening handing out checks to the recipients who formed an impressive line to his right and to his left following their presentations.
A check for $2,000 went to support the Manteca Community Thanksgiving dinner; those receiving $1,500 checks included Boy Scout Troop 432, Boys & Girls Club of Manteca, Give Every Child a Chance, Manteca Police Explorers, Manteca Youth Focus, Manteca Police K-9 Unit and Camp Taylor. A check for $1,200 went to Manteca Noon Kiwanis’ Kiwins high school youth group.
Included in $1,000 checks were the Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT), Kiwanis Family House, Kiwanis Eliminate Project, Sunrise Kiwanis Dream Closet, Every 15-Minutes DUI high school program, Second Harvest Food Bank, Police volunteer SHARP unit and Special Day on the Farm.
Those non-profits receiving lesser amounts included in the Community Night of Giving were another Boy Scout Troop, East Union High Sober Grad, East Union High JROTC, East Union Band Boosters, First Lady’s Project, Great Valley Book Fest, Hospice of San Joaquin, Kiwanis International, Kiwanis Rose Parade Float, Manteca Historical Society, Manteca Prayer Breakfast, Manteca Rotary Club, Raymus House, Sierra High Sober Grad, Valley CAPS, VFW.
An additional $10,000 will be awarded in the form of high school college scholarships to Manteca area students.
To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.
