ROCHELLE — Rochelle Rotary Club’s ‘From the Heart’ event will celebrate its 14th year in 2021 and its anchor fundraiser is now underway.
The Rochelle Rotary Daily Cash Calendars are now available for purchase. For those unfamiliar with the club’s annual fundraiser, the Daily Cash Calendar is a way to give back to eight local non-profit organizations that benefit from the club’s From the Heart fundraiser as well as a chance to win a cash prize every day for a year.
Every calendar purchase gives a chance at winning daily cash prizes — a total of $18,250 for the year. Prizes range from $25 daily, $50 each Sunday to $250 and higher on holidays. Those whose names are drawn for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Christmas are awarded $1,000.
The eight area non-profit organizations who receive large contributions from the sales of the calendars – and the From the Heart event held in February – are the Hub City Senior Center, Focus House, CASA, Shining Star, YMCA Child Care Center, Rochelle Christian Food Pantry, Rochelle Area Community Foundation, and HOPE of Ogle County.

“These non-profits need our help. The money raised with these calendars is given with no strings attached and allows the organizations to use it where they need it most,” Rochelle Rotary Club President Greg Folmar said. “With future funding uncertain, it’s especially important to buy these calendars and support our community through these services.”
The cash calendars cost $20 each and along with the chance to win the daily cash prize there are more than $100 in savings in the form of coupons from participating sponsors as well.
“The main goal of this program is to help the non-profit organizations that partner with From the Heart,” explained David Eckhardt, From the Heart coordinator and Rotary Club member. “Where else can you spend $20 and help out eight organizations?”

Calendars are available for purchase from any Rochelle Rotary Club member, Holcomb Bank in Rochelle, Stillman Bank, First State Bank, HOPE Chest and through the Rochelle Rotary From The Heart website at http://fromtheheartrochelle.org.
Plans are currently underway for the 2021 From the Heart event.

About the non-profit organizations
Hub City Senior Center: The Hub City Senior Center offers a variety of activities and programs to meet the diverse interests of local seniors age 60 and up. The center offers a variety of activities including pool, card games, Bingo and games. The center also offers a monthly birthday party, a monthly movie day and important services for seniors including regular visits from a local podiatrist, eyecare technicians and hearing specialists. Daily lunches are also provided. Several groups meet at the center as well.
Focus House: The mission of Focus House is to provide a safe, nurturing and structured environment for youth. Through the commitment of Focus House to children, youth will are given the opportunity to develop self worth, responsibility and respect — enabling them to successfully return to their families and communities. The primary goal of Focus House is to return each child to his/her family, avoiding further — and more severe — court-mandated actions. 
CASA: The Ogle County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) program recruits, screens and trains volunteers from the community to become a voice for an abused and/or neglected child involved in the local juvenile court system.  After completion of our training class, volunteers are sworn in by the Judge as a Guardian ad Litem.  As a direct party to the case, the volunteer has court authority to look into the child’s situation, submit findings and recommendations in the form of a court report and ensure that the best interests of the child are served. Ogle County volunteers are appointed to one case at a time.  Free from the burden of a heavy case load and bound only to protect the child’s best interest, volunteers often bring information to the judge that otherwise might not be heard.  CASA seeks to shorten the time a child is in foster care and ensures that child’s prompt placement into a safe, nurturing, permanent home. 

Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center: Since 2002, Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center has been providing services for child abuse victims and their families. The mission of Shining Star is to transform victims of child abuse into survivors. The vision is to reduce the trauma of child abuse through identification, offender accountability, advocacy, counseling, and education on the path to eliminating child abuse. The purpose of the program is to provide forensic interviewing, case management and follow-through, and coordinated services to child victims of sexual and physical abuse and their non-offending family members in Lee and Ogle Counties as well as minimizing the trauma experienced by child victims by providing a comfortable and child-friendly environment for the interview and investigations of child abuse crimes.
YMCA Child Care Center: The YMCA Child Care Center, formerly the Rochelle Child Care Center, has been dedicated to the enrichment of children since 1965. The YMCA Child Care Center offers accredited day care, pre-school, and school age programs in a safe, clean, and nurturing environment staffed with loving, caring, and qualified professionals.
Rochelle Christian Food Pantry: The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry serves families in the Rochelle Township High School district who are needing temporary help obtaining food. The pantry receives food and cash donations and is a volunteer driven ministry. Food is distributed on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Rochelle Area Community Foundation: The Rochelle Area Community Foundation offers an opportunity for individuals, families, and businesses to leave a legacy for future generations that will continue to grow in perpetuity and grant money each year to improve the Rochelle Area. The Community Foundation is a public, charitable organization designed to attract gifts that will be shared with Rochelle area non-profit organizations for the benefit of the entire community.
HOPE of Ogle County: HOPE of Ogle County’s mission is to advocate on behalf of domestic violence victims and their children in a welcoming environment. Our caring professionals provide safety planning, support, shelter, and referrals while empowering survivors to build a safe and peaceful future. Those experiencing domestic abuse can contact HOPE of Ogle County 7 days a week/24 hours a day. This service is available in most languages. Domestic violence advocates are there to listen, offer support and provide information on ways to increase personal safety. HOPE provides temporary emergency shelter for adults and their minor children who are experiencing domestic abuse. Safety, shelter, support and goal related services are provided to help individuals make their own choices about the next steps to take. Transitional housing is also available by application to families who access our emergency shelter. Adult and child counseling services are provided by appointment. Weekly support groups are available for adults and their children. HOPE staff also provides public education to local schools, colleges, service organizations, and businesses. Court advocates are also available to assist those experiencing domestic violence, in obtaining court Orders of Protection in Ogle County.