Palatine Rotary Club raises funds

Service organizations have been subject to drastic funding cuts, so it's especially fortuitous that suburbanites love their German festivals.

Due to the resounding success of the 2009 Oktoberfest in downtown Palatine, the Rotary Club of Palatine raised enough money to present more than $26,000 in charitable donations to 14 area organizations.

It's the single largest allocation the club has ever given out.

"It's a great feeling to be part of an organization that can give back so much, especially when so many have had to cut back on donations," said Al Stoeckel, chairman of the allocations committee and a Palatine deputy police chief.

Organizations that received checks between $500 and $3,500 were Boy Scouts of America, Clearbrook, Countryside School, Journeys from PADS to Hope, Little Sisters of the Poor, Northwest Community Hospital, Special Leisure Service Foundation, Palatine Opportunity Center, Palatine Police Department, Palatine Township Senior Center, Palatine/Inverness Arts Council, Preservation of Human Dignity, Special Olympics and The Bridge Youth & Family Services.

Leaders of each organization attended an event earlier this week at the American Legion Hall for the presentation.

To learn more about joining the Palatine Rotary Club, go to palatinerotary.com.