Kiwanis creates fund to aid residents

Sisters Kiwanis has established a resource to help community residents who need financial aid in establishing or changing their career. The fund is designed specifically for individuals who do not qualify for college scholarships.

The Kiwanis Career Opportunity Fund is the idea of Jerry Taylor, immediate past-president of Sisters Kiwanis and retired founder of the Les Schwab Tire Center in Sisters. Applications for funds will be available at several locations in Sisters.

Career Opportunity Fund monies are available for vocational, technical, artistic or general fields of study. Kiwanis purposely has not set limitations on potential use of these monies to encourage applications from persons who have needs that generally are not covered by other resources.

In his presentation of the concept to the Kiwanis Club Board of Directors, Taylor said, "I can see grants for books, tuition, supplies, dues or whatever it takes to get going on a business or career."

Taylor, whose career prior to working his way up through the Les Schwab Company included general labor and apprenticeships, said he had individuals such as himself in mind when he thought about a vocational aid program.

"I would not have qualified for college scholarships, but in high school I knew how to weld, build or fix just about anything with my hands. There are lots of others like that who sometimes just need some help," he said.

Kiwanis annually gives several thousands of dollars in scholarships to graduating seniors at Sisters High School. This year, funds for the Kiwanis scholarships were augmented by an endowment established by the late Glenn Keeran prior to his death in 2006. Keeran, a past Kiwanis president, was a proponent of vocational scholarships.

Applicants for the Kiwanis Career Opportunity must have been a resident of Sisters for at least one year, have a high school diploma, GED or be at least 18 years old, and must be able to demonstrate both a work ethic and need for funds. Other qualifications are on the application sheet, available at the Kiwanis Building at the corner of Oak Street and Main Avenue every Thursday when the Food Bank is open, as well as other locations in Sisters.

Individuals or organizations who wish to contribute to the Kiwanis Career Opportunity Fund may do so by sending a check to Sisters Kiwanis Foundation, P.O. Box 1296, Sisters, OR 97759.

For more information, contact Jeff McDonald, 549-2222.