Service group gives helping hand to 9 groups

Soroptimists International of Carson City has awarded $25,000 in grant funds, provided by the Club's annual Comedy Night fund-raising event, to the following local nonprofit agencies:

-- Advocates to End Domestic Violence was awarded $500 to purchase a kitchen stove for one of its emergency shelters. Advocates provides victims of domestic violence a 24-hour crisis hotline, emergency shelter, transitional housing, and a variety of other services and programs. Lisa Lee is the executive director.

-- Court Appointed Special Advocates of Carson City was awarded $6,500. This grant will fund the recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers assigned to represent children. CASA volunteers are appointed by the Carson City Juvenile Court to advocate in the court, and in the dependency system, on behalf of children removed from the home due to abuse or neglect.

The Carson City CASA program was initially started by Soroptimist International of Carson City in the mid-80s. This club ran the program until 1996. CASA's director is Chris Bayer.

-- Carson City Area Special Olympics was awarded $1,000. This grant will help with funding for training, travel expenses, uniforms and equipment for bowling, cross-country skiing, and aquatics programs. Joan Wilkerson is the local area training coordinator.

-- Carson City Municipal Golf Corp., doing business as Eagle Valley Golf, was awarded $1,000. This grant will assist in the replacement of trees on the East Course. Tree Fund administrator is Jean Bondiett.

-- The Children's Museum of Northern Nevada was awarded $3,000. This grant will be used to fund the rental of a new science and art-based technology exhibit for the museum.

-- Girl Scouts of Sierra Nevada was awarded $1,000. These funds will help fund a Financial Aid Program to provide assistance to Carson City families and girls who cannot afford membership, uniforms and trip fees.

-- Kids & Horses Therapeutic Riding Center was awarded $1,000. This grant will be used for the purchase and repair of riding equipment.

-- Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevada was awarded $10,000. The Soroptimist Legal Fund provided legal services to victims of domestic violence from 1986 to 2001. VARN took over the Soroptimist Legal Fund program last year. VARN's Domestic Violence Victims Assistance Project provides free legal assistance in divorce and child custody matters to victims of domestic violence with low incomes. Odessa Ramirez is the program coordinator for VARN's Domestic Violence Victims Assistance Project.

-- Western Nevada Community College Faculty Senate Support our Students Book Fund was awarded $1,000. Dianne Hilliard is this program's chairperson.

For information, contact Carol Slater at 687-0202 or write: P. O. Box 794, Carson City, NV 89702 to request a grant application package.