Grants Give Local Youth Programs a Boost

ifteen area not-for-profits were awarded more than $19,000 in grants today from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund with the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri. Friends and family of Samantha Otte gathered at the Quincy Art Center to present grants that will benefit hundreds area of youth for artistic, leadership, and humanitarian efforts.

The Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund has awarded more than $308,000 since it was established in late 2000. The Fund honors Samantha Otte, who died in March 2000 at age 10 after a liver transplant necessitated by cystic fibrosis.

“Support from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund helps provide art experiences to schools that do not have visual art education on a regular basis. With the grant awarded today, students will receive art lessons in the classroom and a tour and hands-on experience at the Quincy Art Center,” said Jennifer Teter, Quincy Art Center Executive Director.

The Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund was supported until 2014 by proceeds from the Sammy Fund Weekend. In 2015, the Quincy Breakfast Kiwanis Club announced it would continue a Sammy & Kids Golf Outing and donate a portion of the proceeds to the Fund for continued growth.

"We are incredibly grateful for all the goodness area children will enjoy in Samantha's memory. The grants awarded today will help teach life-enhancing skills, provide incredible opportunities, and bring many smiles to area youth. We are deeply grateful to the generous people who have made this possible,” said June Otte, Samantha’s mother.

Grants were awarded to the following organizations: