COMMUNITY SERVICE

The following are Almaden Valley Rotary's yearly Community Service Projects:

• Interact
  Almaden Valley Rotary Club is the proud sponsor of three Interact clubs, Pioneer, Oak Grove and Leland. These high schoolers develop skills in leadership and learn the satisfaction of helping others through practical experience conducting service projects under the sponsorship and supervision of the Almaden Valley Rotary club.
  
  
• Scholarships
  Almaden Valley Rotary Club give scholarships to local high schools. The high schools in our region are: Pioneer, Leland, Gunderson, Oak Grove, Santa Teresa and Central County Occupational Center (CCOC). Scholarships have been presented in the following years: 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, and 2000.
  
  
• Camp RYLA
  RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) is a leadership camp. Here, young men and women, age range of 14-18, spend time together in a challenging program of discussions, inspirational addresses, leadership training and social activities designed to enhance personal development, leadership skills and good citizenship. Camp RYLA is a very popular event for Rotarians as well.
  
  
• Speech Contest
  Almaden Valley Rotary Club sponsor candidates from the local high schools to the Rotary speech contest.
  What better way than to learn poise and "stage" presence than to speak in front of a group of Rotarians in competition with your peers. The annual Speech Contest held at the District Convention provides this opportunity. It is a rewarding experience to hear these young people.
  
  
• Senior Luncheons
  A Christmas lunch is enjoyed with the senior citizens of South San Jose and Almaden Community Center. The Rotarians prepare and serve the lunch and the seniors get to enjoy the caroling of Simonds Elementary students.
  
  
• Christmas Families Project
  Provide food, clothing, and toys for several families that otherwise would not be celebrating Christmas in an atmosphere of fun and fellowship. The Christmas Wrap Party is our way of celebrating a job well done.

• South Valley YMCA Landscape Project
  A newly constructed planter area with colorful annuals at the main entry of the South Valley YMCA was completed in June 2006.
• Thanksgiving Project
  A community project with the Hoffman/Via Monte Neighborhood Project, Almaden Hills United Methodist Church and Head Start to provide food to families in need for Thanksgiving.