The Twin Cities Sertoma Club has recently presented its annual financial grants to the special education programs in Chehalis, Centralia and all of Lewis County, according to a news release from the club.
Sertoma stands for Service To Mankind. It is an international service organization founded in 1912. The affiliated Twin City Sertoma Club was formed in the late 60s and started granting money locally. Early funding purchased sign language books for Lewis County school libraries, as well as financial support for a transportation van for students in special education.
In later years, a special grant program was set up with the special education programs of districts in Chehalis, Centralia and elsewhere in Lewis County, the release stated.
Each year, the affiliated districts provide a funding wish list to address each district's particular student needs, such as hearing testing equipment, iPads for the students, computer programs for both teaching and learning, and a range of other items aimed at augmenting the learning experience for students with speech and hearing impairment.
This year, grants of $2,500 went to each affiliate in the Twin Cities Sertoma Club Special Education Grant program. Recipients included Jillian Stray, the Centralia special services administrative assistant, and Tammie Jensen-Tabor, the executive director of Centralia special services; Katie Howell, the Chehalis special services director; and Katie Kent, director of the Lewis County Special Services Co-op.
Since organizing the Speech and Hearing Committee, local Sertomans have allocated nearly a quarter million dollars through the special education grants, as well as a program providing hearing aids for members of economically disadvantaged families.
The news release stated that local Sertomans continue to reach out to aid citizens of all ages in the local region concerning speech and hearing impairment.
