Applause

The Rotary Club of Lynnwood recently donated 180 new student dictionaries to third-grade students at College Place and Lynndale elementary schools.

In addition, the club, through its annual Operation Warm project, recently donated funds to purchase 400 new winter jackets for Clothes For Kids in Lynnwood.

The nonprofit organization provides low-income children in the Edmonds School District area with free clothing. To support Clothes For Kids, call 425-431-7285.

The Rotary Club of Lynnwood has a 50-year history of community support. Over the years, its projects have included senior housing, vocational training, cash grants and scholarships.

Students provide food and gifts for families

Fire service technology students at Snohomish County Fire District 1 are helping to make the holidays a bit brighter for area families in need.

For Thanksgiving, students collected enough food to provide meals for six families and make contributions to food banks. For Christmas, the students are providing meals and gifts to four families.

The students are enrolled at the Sno-Isle Skills Center and in Edmonds School District fire service technology classes that meet at Fire District 1’s Mariner Station.

Sponsoring families for the holidays is just one of several community service projects in which the classes have participated this year.

In October, students raised nearly $16,000 in the Give Burns the Boot drive to benefit the Northwest Burn Foundation.

They raised more money during the drive than any other fire department in the state.

Students also have volunteered at Fire District 1 events, including fire station open houses and the Fire 1 Foundation fundraising auction.

Soundview School donates to food bank

In October, the Soundview School kindergarten class kicked off its annual Kids for Cans service project, which was conducted in partnership with the Northwest Harvest food bank.

Older students in arts, engineering and math classes at the school also got involved by designing and building a large sculpture from more than 2,500 cans of tuna collected by the school.

On Saturday, the sculpture was displayed at the Lynnwood City Hall and then dismantled to present to Northwest Harvest. Soundview is a private school in Lynnwood that teaches students in preschool through eighth grade.

Trumpet student to play Carnegie Hall

Adrianna Droz, the daughter of Eric and Shelley Droz of Edmonds, has been invited to play her trumpet with the 60-member 2007 National Wind Ensemble in May at Carnegie Hall in New York.

She also has received a young artist award from the International Trumpet Guild and is a member of this year’s Washington Music Educators Association all-state band.

Adrianna, a Kamiak High School student, also plays softball.

Soroptimist club celebrates 60 years

Soroptimist International of Everett, a volunteer service organization for business and professional women, is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The club is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in Everett and around the world.

A special event to celebrate the milestone is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Everett Golf and Country Club.

The celebration is to include a look at the history of the local Soroptimist club and an update on the progress made on behalf of women in Rwanda. Also planned is a panel discussion by Carol Whitehead, superintendent of the Everett School District; Linda Krese, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge; and Connie Niva, a Port of Everett commissioner.

Children selected for Shop with a Cop

The Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 15, is sponsoring its fourth annual Shop with a Cop event Dec. 16 in Arlington.

Members of law enforcement agencies will accompany more than 20 Snohomish County children referred by social service agencies and churches as they choose $100 worth of merchandise for themselves or as gifts for family members.

Funding for the program comes from donations by individual police officers, community members and business owners.

The event fosters good relationships between children and law enforcement officers, Arlington police officer Jonathan Wells said.

Church receives grant for health ministry

Christ the King Lutheran Church in Snohomish recently received a $1,500 grant from Wheat Ridge Ministries for the continued development of the church’s health ministry.

Wheat Ridge Ministries is an independent Lutheran charitable organization. The grant will provide for CPR and first aid training, education and participation in the Snohomish Community Health Fair sponsored by several Snohomish churches.

For more information, call parish nurse Anita Huntley at 360-568-8318.

Marysville police collect food donations

The Marysville Police Department is collecting food for the city’s annual drive for the Marysville Food Bank.

Police department employees and the Marysville Police Officers Association have collected and will be presenting more than 1,100 pounds of food to the food bank.

The department is accepting donations at the Marysville Public Safety Building, 1635 Grove St.

Organization to award $10,000 in grants

Due in part to a generous bequest from the Richard Turner Estate, the Community Grant Fund of the Greater Everett Community Foundation has grown from $15,000 to $110,000 this year.

The fund’s directors plan to award $10,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross, ARC of Snohomish County, Arlington Kids Kloset, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys &Girls clubs and Christmas House.

The Greater Everett Community Foundation serves agencies and community groups throughout Snohomish County, and the Community Grant Fund is just one of many funds.

The foundation is a philanthropic pool created through gifts from hundreds of individuals, families, businesses and organizations committed to improving the quality of life for the people of Snohomish County.

Guided by a board of volunteer leaders, the foundation works in every aspect of the community, including the arts, education and human services.

During the first 11 months of 2006, more than $790,000 was given to various nonprofit organizations.

The goal of the Greater Everett Community Foundation is to expand the Community Grant Fund in order to help organizations throughout the county.

To donate to the Community Grant Fund or any other fund at the Greater Everett Community Foundation, or to obtain information on establishing your own fund at the foundation, call 425-257-8385.

Friend receives Hero award from Lions Club

Kathleen Friend, director of the Lake Stevens Family Center, was awarded the Lake Stevens Lions Club’s Local Hero award at the club’s Nov. 21 meeting.

Friend, who has directed the center for the past five years, was honored for her work with youths and families in the Lake Stevens area.

Pocahontas members earn 50-year pins

Gloria Williams and Dolores McMullen of Everett recently received their 50-year membership pins and certificates from the Degree of Pocahontas.

The charitable organization has been active in Everett for nearly 100 years. The Everett chapter will host the Degree of Pocahontas state convention in April.

EquiFriends receives grant from foundation

The Nysether Family Foundation of the Greater Everett Community Foundation recently granted funds to support a staff member at EquiFriends, a Snohomish therapeutic horseback riding program.

The group provides help for children and adults living with disabilities and those who need to build self-confidence and develop relationships. Call EquiFriends at 425-377-0802.