Saratoga Rotary's Fine Arts Show Raises Funds for Community Programs

The Rotary Club of Saratoga’s Fine Arts Show might seem like just an enjoyable afternoon of art, music and family fun, but it is so much more.

The event serves as the largest fundraiser for the Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation, which supports grants to local non-profit organizations and the Club's youth and community service programs.

The Saratoga Rotary typically participates in 15 – 20 community service projects each year, many of which require funding to complete.

Some of these projects, like Read Across America Day / Dr. Seuss’ Birthday, support youth literacy, while other projects such as the Breakfast with Santa bring the community together. The Rotary also works in tandem with other organizations, such as West Valley Community Services, to support a Back to School shopping drive for K-12 students.

The Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation (SRCF) also supports many youth leadership training opportunities for local high school students each year, including the Enterprise Leadership Conference which is a free, three-day crash course in entrepreneurship, teamwork, and creativity.

But one of the biggest parts of the SRCF is providing community grants. Local non-profits may apply for grants, which typically range from several hundred to several thousand dollars and are intended to support the needs of local communities. Each year, twelve to fifteen grants are awarded to eligible organizations.

“We are so proud of the assistance we are able to provide to strengthen our community,” said Catherine Thermond, President of the Saratoga Rotary. “The SRCF has recently provided grants to organizations like Community Cycles of California and Cancer Care Point to help support those in need of transportation and vital medical services.”

According to Thermond, since the establishment of the SRCF in 2002, over $1 Million has been granted to local non-profits.

“All the money raised at the Fine Arts Show will benefit recipients of SRCF grants and community programs,” said Thermond. “People can purchase beautiful, unique art and handmade gifts and know that a portion of that will go directly back to their community.”

The Fine Arts Show will also provide spaces devoted to local artist workshops, community outreach, and environmental efforts such as a lithium ion battery recycling drive.

The Rotary Club of Saratoga’s Fine Art Show is free to the public and takes place May 6-7 from 10am-5pm at West Valley College in Saratoga. For more information on the event, visit https://www.saratogarotaryartshow.org/