Ben Burke, executive director of Manzanita Outreach, was on hand at the Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks’ August 16 meeting to receive the first installment of District Grant funds for his organization’s School Supplies for Teachers program.

This is the second year Sedona Red Rocks has used its District Grant opportunity to work in partnership with Manzanita Outreach on this program. The 2022 grant funded the purchase of a fully stocked cabinet of school supplies for Sedona Charter School. This year, grant monies plus the club’s matching contribution will be used to replenish $3,152 worth of supplies in that same cabinet.

Manzanita Outreach has cabinets in 14 schools across the Verde Valley at a total annual cost of $135,000. The supplies are re-stocked monthly during the 10-month long school year and are provided at no cost to the teachers or staff. This results in educators no longer having to reach into their own pockets to assure their students have the necessary classroom resources. Healthy snacks and personal grooming items are also supplied.

DG Kevin Pitts, on his annual club visit, was pleased to have the opportunity to connect with Burke. Manzanita Outreach is principally a food distribution organization. It will be working with the district on the meal packaging project at RYLA 2024 at Camp Pinerock.

Long-time Verde Valley businessman Phil Martinez was also recognized at the meeting for his philanthropy. He was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship for his $10,000 donation to the club’s Vocational Scholarship Fund. During the presentation, club treasurer Donna Hawk stated it was the largest single donation the club had received in its 21-year history.

It was also announced during the meeting that Sedona Red Rocks will be sending a $2,000 donation to the Maui Fire Relief Fund.