The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the following 2012 awards were presented at the July 18 meeting:

- Child Abuse Listening and Mediation (CALM): Parent/Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) teaches parents specific skills to establish a nurturing and secure relationship with their child while increasing their child’s pro-social behavior and decreasing negative behavior. The program helps children between the ages of 2-7 who have behavioral issues and/or where bonding and attachment need to be addressed.

- Special Olympics – Southern California: Youth Athlete Program (YAP) is an innovative, inclusive sports play program for children 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities, designed to introduce them to the world of sports prior to Special Olympics eligibility at age eight.

- Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History: Discovery Backpacks are filled with supplies and information on natural history topics, tools and activities for children to explore their natural world.

The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation, a §501(c)(3) charitable organization, was formed in June 1993 for the charitable, humanitarian and educational purposes. The Sunrise Foundation raises money in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise to fund service projects locally and internationally and fund grants to nonprofit organizations.

The Sunrise Foundation raises funds by asking members and the general public to make annual commitments. In addition, the Sunrise Foundation holds fundraising events such as the 27th Annual Sunrise Rotary Golf Classic which was held on May 21, 2012 and the 41st Annual Old-Time Fiddlers' Convention and Festival is scheduled for October 14, 2012. US federal tax identification number: 91-1752304

The Sunrise Foundation reviewed grant applications received prior to the submission deadline of April 28, 2012. 

Additional grant awards will be presented at subsequent meetings during the summer months.

Photo:  Sara Spataro, Regional Director, Special Olympics – Southern California; Judith McCaffrey, Vice President, Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise Charitable Foundation; Heather Moffat, Director of Education, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History; Elizabeth Rumelt, LCSW, Director, Center Based Services Child Abuse Listening and Mediation (CALM); and David Velarde, President, Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise.