QUINCY — St. Dominic second-graders Hannah Hoffer and Claire O’Neal love doing art projects in the classroom.
“I like doing art because I can show it to my whole family,” Hannah said.
“You get to do fun stuff and crafty crafting,” Claire said.
The pair can’t wait for the next project, which just might be paid for thanks to a grant tied to a young girl who wanted to empower and inspire others.
St. Dominic was one of 23 local nonprofit organizations awarded grants Friday from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund, managed by the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri.
More than $51,000 in grants will support area programs focused on creativity, leadership and humanitarian initiatives through the fund created to celebrate the life and legacy of Otte, who died in March 2000 at 10 years old following a liver transplant made necessary by cystic fibrosis.
“To see the impact of these grants grow every year and know how many children are benefitting from Samantha’s memory is humbling,” Community Foundation CEO Catherine Bocke Meckes said.
“Her presence is felt in each organization that benefits from her memorial fund. Her spirit shines through the children who are provided opportunities. Her legacy grows each year as her fund touches more and more lives,” said Kent Embree, program officer with the Community Foundation.
The fund, the first donor advised one for the Community Foundation, was launched in 2000 by Samantha’s parents Chuck and June Otte, who joined in celebrating the legacy of their daughter.
“It is unique the way Quincy has supported this thing all these years. While we’re humbled and proud of the Samantha Otte Opportunity Fund and all it has accomplished, we are even more grateful to all who made it possible,” Chuck Otte said. “These agencies make a difference every day for children in the community,”
This year’s grants provide, for example, books and bedding, diapers, scholarships, curriculum and food for young people.
“Having the support from the grant really helps us feed our community,” said Eric Thorsen with Horizon Social Services of Adams County.
Thorsen works with the KidzPacks program providing food every weekend for students in Quincy Public Schools.
“Last year we were right around 1,100. This year, it’s just over 1,200. We are currently doing 1,272 bags a week,” Thorsen said. “We always try to provide two breakfast-type items, two lunch-type items and two snack-type items. With the grant, it makes it a lot easier to buy healthier things.”
Bella Ease Academic Services Director Elle House said the grant will help fund the agency’s college bound program providing support for students applying for college and once enrolled.
“With that support, we’re able to help students attain their dreams,” House said.
The grants provide additional opportunities in and outside the classroom for area students, including those at St. Francis.
“We don’t have a full-time visual arts teacher. We rely on grants to help us bring hands-on art lessons to students. This will cover one hands-on art lesson for all classes,” fourth-grade teacher Katie O’Neal said.
Students benefit in many ways from the time spent on art projects.
“It’s a way they can destress, have that creative outlet and just have an opportunity to do art that’s more than most classroom teachers have the supplies and resources to pull together,” O’Neal said. “I see how our kids’ skills have grown. Each year it builds. It’s a wonderful thing to see.”
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