The Eagle-Garden City Rotary International Club (EGC-Rotary) (eaglegardencityrotary.org/ ) is pleased to announce that three nonprofits within the Treasure Valley have been awarded $1,500 Grants through the EGC Rotary’s 2024-2025 grant cycle: JEM Friends, Jesse Tree and Game Changers. These three organizations stood out from several other very worthy nonprofits who submitted applications describing their operations and specific needs. Suffice to say, there is no lack of needs within our community and EGC Rotary is proud to its small part.
EGC-Rotary established and maintains the Eagle-Garden City Rotary Charitable Fund from which we award grants to qualified nonprofits that focus on one or more of Rotary’s seven areas of focus: Promoting Peace; Fighting Disease; Providing Clean Water, Sanitation and Hygiene; Saving Mothers and Children; Supporting Education and Growing Local Economies.
JEMfriends
JEMfriends (jemfriends.org) Independent Living Program (ILP) provides Stepping Stones for at-risk youth to become independent, resilient adults. Their program is structured in four phases, each with its own objectives and milestones, and typically completed in 24-36 months. 1) provide a safe and stable home for each JEMyouth throughout the time they are in the Independent Living Program. 2) Provides their JEMyouth with a community of staff, volunteers, and roommates – each of whom support them as they accomplish their individual Independent Living Program Plans. 3) JEMfriends’ life skills classes provide expert input and personalized advice for each JEMyouth as they accomplish their Independent Living Program Plans. 4) Inspire a community of support that is prepared to meet the needs of JEMyouth leaving
foster care.
Jesse Tree
Jesse Tree (jessetreeidaho.org) envisions a community where all of our neighbors
live in safe and stable housing. Jesse Tree is taking the lead within the Treasure Valley for
preventing eviction and homelessness by supporting our neighbors at risk of housing loss,
empowering them to stay in their homes. Jesse Tree’s case management service includes landlord
mediation, budgeting education, and housing stability planning. Jesse Tree offers tenants in
eviction court with guidance and support during the court process.
Game Changers Idaho
Game Changers Idaho (www.gamechangersidaho.com) started in 2018 as a flag football program. With 40 kids and a few friends volunteering, the league was a huge success. Today, Game Changers is a year-round league with over 300 kids playing multiple seasonal sports. Game Changers also gives kids regular opportunities to build and maintain friendships by being on a team with other kids who go to different schools, churches, clinics, etc. Their mission is to spread goodness by empowering those who are committed to making a difference in the lives of children of all abilities. Through sports, they build a community that shows, while they may be different, they are also the same. By providing consistent opportunities, they are able to witness and celebrate the growth of each athlete’s unique abilities rather than their disabilities.
If funds were unlimited, we would have awarded grants to all who applied. As a club, EGC Rotary hopes to support these deserving organizations through individual member donations and member volunteerism.
All nonprofits local to the Eagle-Garden City impact area are welcome to submit grant applications during EGC Rotary’s next 2026 annual cycle. Check back for details on our website in March or early April 2026.
