The Eagle-Garden City Rotary is pleased to announce that three nonprofits within the Treasure Valley — Game Changers Idaho, JEMfriends and Jesse Tree — have been awarded $1,500 grants through our 2025 grant cycle.
We awarded JEMfriends a $1,500 grant to supply class materials for at-risk youth, many who are aging out of the foster care system, to learn important life skills. JEMfriends' independent living program provides "stepping stones" for at-risk youth, called JEMyouth, to become independent, resilient adults. This program has four phases, each with its own objectives and milestones, and typically takes 24 to 36 months to complete. It was created to provide JEMyouth with a stable home, expert input, and personalized basic life skills classes while they're in the program. Staff, volunteers and other JEMyouth create a community of support as these young people accomplish their individual program plans.
The club also awarded Jesse Tree $1,500. This grant is targeted to helping families at risk of homelessness remain in their homes through the nonprofit's emergency rental assistance program.Jesse Tree envisions a community where all our neighbors live in safe and stable housing. The organization is taking the lead within the Treasure Valley on 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. And the program offers guidance and support to tenants in eviction court during the court process.
An organization that was new to us was Game Changers Idaho, whom we also awarded $1,500. This grant will support two seasons of adaptive flag football for about 200 children with disabilities and help the nonprofit secure premium game space. Game Changers Idaho started in 2018 as an adaptive 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. The organization also gives children regular opportunities to build and maintain friendships by being on a team with others who go to different schools, churches or clinics.
Game Changers' 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 showing that, while they may be different, they are also the same. By providing consistent opportunities, they can 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 the organizations that applied. As it was, these three organizations stood out for their alignment with our club's four areas of focus — supporting education, fighting disease, saving mothers and children, and growing local economies.
Suffice to say, there is no lack of needs within our community. For this reason, the Eagle-Garden City Rotary Club established our charitable fund in 2019 and has awarded 18 grants since 2020.
Although the grant cycle for 2025 has ended, all nonprofits local to the Eagle-Garden City area are welcome to submit grant applications during the next cycle. Check our website for details in March or early April 2026.