On Tuesday (11/1/2016), the Murfreesboro Rotary Club presented $3,000 in grants to "the arts" as well as "reading programs" to benefit area youth. Service Project Committee Chair Gib Backlund noted that the money from the 97-year old civic club would be directed toward educational enrichment for this area's youth.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Rutherford County

Rutherford County's oldest civic club presented a $2,000 grant to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rutherford County.

Rotarian Sheryl Chesnutt, who is the Boys and Girls Club's executive director, accepted the gift and announced that it would be used to strengthen the reading program.

She noted, "85 per cent of children from low-income families have reading challenges. The grant from the local Rotary club will enable the Boys and Girls Clubs to better serve these at-risk youth."

Photo L-R ID: Rotary President Barb Sutton, Rotarians Beth Bragg, Sheryl Chesnutt, and Past President and Service Project Chair Gib Backlund.

Murfreesboro Center for the Arts

At the same meeting, Murfreesboro Rotary awarded a second grant to the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts.

Rotarian Patience Long, who is also the theater's executive director, said the funds will be used with youth related programs at the Center for the Arts.

Photo L-R ID: President Barb Sutton, Rotarians Dr. Gloria Bonner, Patience Long, and Past President and Service Project Chair Gib Backlund hold the giant $1,000 check to the local theater group.