Community Foundation awards grants for youths to 28 nonprofit organizations

QUINCY — Twenty-eight local nonprofit organizations are receiving grants in Samantha Otte’s memory that will benefit hundreds of area youths for artistic, leadership and humanitarian efforts.

The grants, totaling nearly more than $55,000, were distributed from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund with the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri. The announcement was made at PHAST Tracks, 628 Jersey, one of this year’s grant recipients. Since the fund was established in late 2000, more than $578,000 has been distributed through grants to support kids in Samantha’s memory. 

“This distribution from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund is the largest amount given in any single year — more than $55,000,” said June Otte, Samantha’s mother. “It’s wonderful to see all the goodness happening in Samantha’s memory. From all of Samantha’s family and friends, we are deeply grateful to all who have made this possible.”

The Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund honors the life and legacy of Samantha Otte by helping area children reach their potential. Samantha died in March 2000 at age 10 after a liver transplant necessitated by cystic fibrosis. Samantha’s parents, Chuck and June Otte, decided shortly after her death to start a fund in their daughter’s memory at the Community Foundation. The Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund was the foundation’s first donor-advised fund.

“Children are our future, and by supporting local kids, we grow our community’s potential,” Community Foundation CEO Catherine Bocke Meckes said. “It is an honor to award these grants in Sammy’s memory, knowing that her spark and spirit lives on through each child who benefits. We are grateful to the Ottes, their friends and family, and the continued contributions of the Gem City Kiwanis for this meaningful gift to our region.”

Grants were awarded to the following organizations:

The Community Foundation builds permanent charitable funds to assist area nonprofits and communities.

Its mission, “Connecting people who care with causes that matter,” is achieved by gathering funds, growing them through investments, then granting to nonprofit organizations, causes or communities that mean the most to its donors.   

The Community Foundation has made more than $18 million in grants since 1997. It serves 12 counties: Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike in Illinois and Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Knox, Shelby and Monroe in Missouri.  

The Community Foundation has IRS 501(c)(3) status, and contributions made to the Community Foundation generally qualify for the maximum allowable deductions for income and estate tax purposes. 

For more information, call 217-222-1237, email info@mycommunityfoundation.org or go to mycommunityfoundation.org orwww.facebook.com/mycommunityfoundation.