Grants distributed to help kids, honor Samantha Otte’s life and legacy
Nearly $50,000 distributed to support local programs for youth opportunities
Twenty-one local nonprofit organizations received grants in Samantha Otte’s memory that will benefit hundreds of area youth for artistic, leadership, and humanitarian efforts.
The grants, totaling an annual fund record of nearly $50,000, were distributed from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund with the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri at Quincy Teen REACH in the presence of her family and friends.
The Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund honors the life and legacy of Samantha Otte by helping others. Samantha passed away in March 2000 at age 10 after a liver transplant necessitated by cystic fibrosis. Since the fund was established in late 2000, more than $480,000 has been distributed through grants to support kids in Samantha’s memory.
“These grants today will bring joy, educate, enrich, and open doors of opportunity for area children,” said June Otte, Samantha’s mother. “These grants will impact lives in so many positive ways. We are deeply grateful to all who have made this possible, and we continue to be humbled by the generous community support that allows these blessing in Samantha’s memory.”
The Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund was supported until 2014 by proceeds from the Sammy Fund Weekend fundraising event. In 2015, the Quincy Breakfast Kiwanis Club announced it would continue a Sammy & Kids Golf Outing and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Fund for continued growth.
“Junior Achievement is excited to receive funds from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund. These funds will help us in our efforts to provide life changing financial literacy programming to children in the Quincy Public School System,” said District Manager Taylor Rakers. “Knowledge is power, and the knowledge that Junior Achievement provides allows students to shape their own futures.”
Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
| Grantee | Purpose |
| Adams County Farm Bureau Foundation | Adams County Ag in the Classroom initiative |
| Bella Ease | Teen Reach College Bound program, providing financial assistance for first-generation college students |
| Birthday Blessings | To serve the physical and emotional needs of approximately 30 foster children in Lewis and Knox Counties |
| Cheerful Home Child Care & Early Learning Center | Outdoor playground equipment |
| Cornerstone: Foundations for Families | Comprehensive Youth Services program providing mental health counseling and advocacy services |
| Covered Bottoms Diaper Bank | Ten Healthy Children campaign |
| Friends of Bailey Park Initiative | Update and replace playground equipment at Bailey Park in Camp Point, Illinois |
| Girl Scouts of Central Illinois | Girl Scout Outreach Program and camperships for girls in need of financial assistance |
| Jackson-Lincoln Swimming Complex | Scholarships for low-income swimmers |
| John Wood Community College Foundation | JDUB Academy tuition assistance |
| John Wood Community College Foundation | Financial assistance for participants in the College for Life Program |
| Junior Achievement | Financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness education for K-12 students |
| Mississippi Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America | Campership and scouting opportunities |
| St. Peter Catholic School | Wilhelm Johnson Scholz STEM Lab |
| Quincy Children’s Museum | Materials for children’s pop-up exhibits |
| Quincy Community Theatre | Student Theatre Scholarship program |
| Quincy Public Library | Support of the Mobile Library/Bookmobile funding campaign |
| Quincy Public Schools | Water therapy services for special needs children |
| Arts Quincy Society of Fine Arts | Instant Arts program for Adams County students |
| Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association | Tuition scholarship for low-income participants in Youth Choir and Youth Orchestra and for the purchase of printed music |
| Transitions of Western Illinois Foundation | Mark 5 Die Cutting Machine and additional materials |
| YMCA of West Central Illinois – Quincy Family YMCA | Swim lessons and water safety education for approximately 70 financially challenged Quincy area children |
Samantha Otte lived a short but significant life in 10 years.
Those who knew and loved her were touched by her spirit and spark. Those who did not have that privilege have witnessed how Samantha’s indelible imprint spurs family and friends to honor her life by helping others.
Advisors make grant recommendations with the fund’s primary purpose in mind which includes, but is not limited to, support for organizations which maintain and enhance community betterment and artistic, leadership, and humanitarian opportunities for youth.
Grants awarded from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund celebrate her life and touch hundreds of area children.
Her spark and spirit remain bright.
One-page request letters for funding which meet the charitable purpose of the Samantha Otte Youth Fund should be submitted online through the Community Foundation’s website. Requests must be submitted to the Community Foundation on or before October 1 each year. Grants are generally awarded in January. While funding is not dependent upon submitting a request, the request form serves as a means to make the Community Foundation aware of organizations and programs.
Visit the Grant Opportunities page for grant application details.
Miss Clipping Out Stories to Save for Later?
Click the Purchase Story button below to order a print of this story. We will print it for you on matte photo paper to keep forever.
DAILY MUDDY: HAMFEST AND GARDNER CAMP
Current Weather
FRI
SAT
SUN
MON
TUE
