Service Partner
Annual Service Partner Application
DEADLINE: 4/11/23
Metropolitan Savannah Rotary (MSR) intends to support, both financially and through volunteer support, organizations that make Savannah a better, stronger, more livable community. The chosen organization will preferably have a mission that allows for projects with a tangible impact that will provide lasting results for years to come. Funds should be directed toward a specific program, articulated through our application process. Applicants should seek to incorporate our members’ volunteer time into their application.
Metropolitan Savannah Rotary will partner with one organization for one year (beginning July 1, 2023) providing volunteer support once a quarter and financial support. The grant recipient will be awarded up to $10,000 based on the success of Metropolitan Savannah Rotary events throughout the year. It is very important to MSR that there be opportunities for hands-on service projects quarterly. Recipients must be a 501(c)(3) organization.
Applications must be submitted in the Google Survey no later than April 11, 2023.
All projects will be reviewed by Metropolitan Savannah Rotary and finalists will be selected. Selected finalists will be notified by April 24, 2023. Finalists must be able to attend an in-person interview on May 8, 2023 between 2-5p.
The selected organization will be notified in early June 2023.
Should you have any questions during the application process, please contact Cari Phelps at cari@clarkcreativedesign.com
Metro's Past Service Partners
2022-23 Brighthouse Advocacy
2021-22 Girls on the Run Coastal Georgia and Low Country
Metro hosted a "Blood, Sweat and Beers" fundraiser for Girls on the Run at Coastal Empire Beer Company in November 2021. Club members also volunteered at the GOTR Fall 5K Celebration Run and other events. Metro President Cecilia Arango said, “The 2021 international Rotary theme is empowering girls. We are proud to support the Girls on the Run program at their area schools and community centers. This program inspires girls to become future leaders and provides them the skills and voice to build confidence and enact action.”
2020-21 Urban Hope and Bike Walk Savannah
Metro Rotary made a $5,000 donation to Urban Hope to support the nonprofit’s summer camps, which offer programs, “change the lives of children and youth, bringing them a sense of hope and a sense of future through spiritual and educational development and life management skills.” The club also donated $5,250 to Bike Walk Savannah to support neighborhood street safety audits and other programs that make streets safer for people using all modes of travel.
“Urban Hope will utilize the generous contribution from Metro Rotary to help run our free summer camp program for Savannah area children,” said Jennifer Oetgen, president of the Urban Hope board of directors. “The summer camp program provides a safe environment for underserved youth ages 6-18 for eight weeks. Metro Rotary’s funds will play a vital role to facilitate this impactful program for Savannah’s youth this summer.”

The audits are a collaborative effort with the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health grant administered by Healthy Savannah and the YMCA of Coastal Georgia, and are designed to create activity friendly routes to everyday destinations. The goal of the audits is to identify opportunities to improve transportation infrastructure that will make it more convenient and less hazardous for people to walk, bike, and take transit to school, jobs, and other important destinations.
2019-20 Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity
Metro worked with the Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity organization to help move their administrative offices from a former residence to a newly-created office space in the Habitat Restore. The move gave the organization a more efficient workspace so that it can more effectively work towards its vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
Tasks included work parties to fix up the former residence inside and out in anticipation of its future sale. Metrotarians also assisted by physically moving the entire contents of the administrative office from the former residence to the new Restore location.
2018-19 Ogeechee Riverkeeper
The Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) mission is to protect, preserve, and improve the water quality of the Ogeechee River Basin. Metro worked with ORK to support the Stormwater Wise Windsor Forest project to connect and educate local residents in positive ways on land, water, and their neighbors while providing tangible ways for homeowners and renters to build awareness about drainage systems.
- Cleaning tires and debris from marshes in the Coffee Bluff area
- Placing tiles at drain locations throughout Windsor Forest to serve as reminders that the drains lead directly to receiving waters and to discourage dumping of toxic substances there
- Constructing rain gardens in Windsor Forest to increase rain infiltration and reduce surface runoff

2018-17 Loop It Up Savannah
Loop It Up's mission is to provide creative art experiences and connect resources to children and families throughout Savannah. Using the arts, they foster stronger relationships, allowing them to work together to build a sustainable and interconnected community where everyday needs are met with creativity and confidence.
Metro members painted Loop It Up's new community center, constructed book boxes, and volunteered at Soup It Up (Loop It Up's major fundraiser).
2016-17 Fresh Air Home

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2015-16 Forsyth Farmers' Market: Farm Truck 912
2014-15 Savannah Bicycle Campaign

2013-14 Greenbriar Children's Center




Metro's First Unofficial Service Partner: West Broad YMCA
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