Nearly $19,000 Awarded to Support Youth Activities
CF Release - January 6, 2010

Samantha Otte lived a short but significant life in 10 years. Those who knew and loved her were touched by her spirit and spark. Those who did not have that privilege have witnessed how Samanthas indelible imprint spurs family and friends to honor her life by helping others.  
 
Today, what would have been her 20th birthday, family and friends will honor Samantha Ottes memory by presenting $18,700 to several youth-oriented organizations. This marks the tenth year for the grant awards. The Quincy Art Center, 1515 Jersey Street, hosted the brief program at 8:30 a.m. today.  
 
Sam died in March 2000 after a liver transplant necessitated by cystic fibrosis.  
 
This years 13 grants from the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund will touch the lives of hundreds of area children.  
 
As of today, over 100 grants totaling $156,235 have been distributed from the fund since it was established with the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area in late 2000. The primary purpose of the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund includes, but is not limited to, support of organizations which maintain and enhance community betterment and artistic, leadership and humanitarian opportunities for young people.  
 
This years grants will enable several hundred children in the Quincy area to participate in a variety of activities including camping, swim lessons, art and opera. Others will learn about staying safe or attend childrens college. Some of the organizations will construct a permanent display to honor the areas history and other youth will participate in community development.  
 
The Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund is supported by monies raised during the annual Sammy Event. The event is organized by the Sammy Fund, a group of family and friends. Sams parents, Chuck and June Otte, emphasize that the Sammy Fund deserves the credit for the Sammy Events success.  
 
Hundreds of people gather each October to support the Sammy Event. They participate in a run/walk, a golf tournament, an auction, and a dinner to honor Samanthas life. A portion of the proceeds from the annual event, memorial gifts and other donations are added to the Samantha Otte Youth Opportunity Fund at the Community Foundation enabling it to grow and to make annual grant distributions. The Sammy Fund also retains a portion for other youth-oriented uses.  
 
First Bankers Trust Company has served as major sponsor of the event from its October 2000 start. Refreshment Services Pepsi joined as a major sponsor in 2002 with the Quincy Herald-Whig and WGEM joining in 2003. County Market joined the lineup of major sponsors in 2006. Ralph and Lisa Oakley served as the Sammy Events 2009 Honorary Chairs.  
 
Grants are being awarded to the following:  
 
 
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Adams County- To support one-on-one mentoring relationships  
 
Camp Callahan- To support camperships for disabled youth  
 
Fall Creek Friends 4-H Club- To assist 4-H members in creating a general store inside the historical Lewis Round Barn Museum in Mendon  
 
Girl Scouts of Central Illinois- To provide membership assistance, outreach programming, including the Staying Safe program for Baldwin School girls  
 
Good News of Christmas- To adopt a wish list of a family with four children  
 
Jackson-Lincoln Swimming Complex, Inc.- To help fund scholarship programs for children who cannot afford pool fees  
 
John Wood Community College Foundation- To fund Children's College tuition waivers for income-eligible children  
 
Muddy River Opera Company- To support outreach programming for children to experience opera  
 
Quanada- To fund a prevention and education program emphasizing personal safety and dating violence in conjunction with the Quincy Community Theatre  
 
Quincy Family YMCA- To support the cost of swim lessons for Head Start students from the Early Childhood Education Center  
 
Quincy Art Center- To provide partial funding for an Art Mentoring Program at Washington School  
 
Sheridan Swim Team, Inc.- To provide swimming opportunities for income-eligible children  
 
University of Illinois Extension- To support a community development project with Northwest Quincy youth  
 
The Community Foundation of the Quincy Area is a nonprofit resource that connects people who care with causes that matter in the tri-states. It encompasses 13 area counties and works with donors to build charitable funds that support local causes. It is an endowment builder, a donor advisor, community connector and grant maker.  
 
The Community Foundation serves as a savings account, building permanent funds to address significant needs and opportunities now and in the future in our communities. Since 1999, the Community Foundation has awarded more than 730 grants totaling over $1,190,000 through its various funds providing local support for various programs and projects in the tri-states.  
 
For more information, call Program Coordinator Amy Meyer Lehenbauer at 217-222-1237, email grantsqacf@adams.net or go to www.mycommunityfoundation.org.