Each year our club awards the Don Chalmers grants to children's charities in New Mexico.  The grants, ranging from $3000 to $20,000 are funded from an endowment that the club created over 20 years ago.  The club added to the endowment each year through our governors ball fundraiser.

 

This year's recipients included:
- Christina Kent Early Childhood Development Center - $3000 - Founded in 1919 serves low income families early childhood. Children between 2 and 5 years old.  They serve 78 children.  The grant will be used to replace old shelving, add new furniture and build loft room  for toddlers
- NDI -$10,000  NDI is celebrating their 30 year anniversary.  Don and Diane Chalmers were involved with NDI.  They serve 2050 Elementary students annually.  Free program teaches dance and character building skills. 
- Global Give A Book -  $20,000 - Last year they provided 20,000 books to students.  They plan to use the grant money to expand distribution of books to children implement and establish reading and literacy workshops.
- Hero's Path Palliative Care - $10,000  Hero's Path Palliative care was founded in Sept 2019 to provide palliative care for children to get care they need.  
- R4 Creative - $10,000  R4 Creative is dedicated to breaking cycle of undereducated and underserved New Mexicans.  Serves all educators throughout the state.  Introduces children to stem through robot building competitions.

As part of our commitment to community service, several of our Club members (Robert Brown, Ed Robertson, Bruce Bortner, and Ron Hensley, shown here with President-Elect Meredith Eisenberg) received Bronze Level recognition from our wonderful partners at Meals on Wheels New Mexico for over 100 hours of delivering meals with a friendly smile to people who are homebound.  The chapter has supported Meals on Wheels for many years taking on one of the most needy routes in ABQ.  

A group of Rotarians from the Del Sol club delivered the clothes and blankets we collected in partnership with Citizen Church to The Rock at Noonday.  We helped feed lunch at the shelter and Elizabeth Montoya created and distributed lovely flowers for the tables.  Have blankets, towels or other items to donate?  Bring them to our chapter meeting.  We'll be collection through April. 

A warm welcome to our newest members Bob and Michele Mals who were officially inducted at our club meeting this week.  Although they have just become "official" members, they've already had a huge impact on the club by spearheading a recurring donation drive for the homeless and Purseonalities Plus. Bob was part of the Daybreakers Club in Durango.  We are glad to have them both as members of our club.

The Rotary Del Sol Beans & Rice project was a success.  The club raised enough money to provide 9000 meals through the Road Runner Food Bank. Will Tapia, Corporate Engagement Officer from Road Runner came to the meeting to thank us for the donation and to update us the important work the Food Bank does in our community.  Since the pandemic, the need has grown as the number of donations have decreased.  

He also encouraged us to attend their major fundraiser - the Souper Bowl on February 3 starting at 11am at the RoadRunner Office.  Your event ticket includes samples from dozens of top restaurants. 

 

The New Mexico Ramps Project is recently received a significant grant to expand their ramp building program. 

 

Earlier in the week, President Brad Ekhoff and Ramps Coordinator Greg Hallstrom attended the San Juan County Rotary Club meeting to discuss upcoming Ramps projects in the Farmington/Shiprock area. We are thrilled to be working with the San Juan County Rotary Club and other Rotary Clubs in our District to build ramps for those who are disabled and who desperately need this service to improve their daily lives 

 

We are excited to have Jered Bousliman as our newest Rotary Del Sol member.  Sponsored by Cynde Tagg, Jered is a Nursing Unit Director at UNM Hospital.

 

We inducted our newest member, Lt Col. David Chavira, with the New Mexico Air National Guard at our last chapter meeting.  His sponsor Christine Glidden (who is currently in Nepal working on our Rotary International Grant project) took part in the meeting via zoom.   Welcome David!

 

Welcome to our newest member Cynde Tagg.   Cynde worked with Jeff Weinrach at UNM Hospitals where she recently retired from being Associate Chief Nursing Officer.  We've enjoyed getting to know her over the past few months and are excited to have her as the newest member of our club.

Rotary Del Sol has a new member - Abby Aguirre!  Abby is a business consultant with Farmer's Insurance.  We've enjoyed getting to know her over the past few months are are excited to finally have her as a member of our club.  Welcome Abby!