Quota GR

01/10/2025

Quota GR summer Picnic on the Porch meeting in August 2024 with these amazing ladies: Kath Slagal, Kathy Freeman, Maureen Martin, Pam Howland, Sue Scharf, Sandi Aten, Betsy Smith, and Lisa Kent.

01/10/2025

QUOTA CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS
ANNOUNCEMENT

After 79 years as a service club in West Michigan, the board of directors and membership of the Quota Club of Grand Rapids have voted to dissolve the Club and its Charitable Foundation.

Started by a group of civic-minded business women in 1945, Quota GR began as part of the larger Quota International service organization. Our main mission has been to serve the deaf and hard of hearing in our community.

Over those 79 years, Quota GR has donated over $500,000 to varied projects in our area: one of the first cochlear implants in West Michigan, a vibrating dance floor and ballet lessons for deaf students, closed captioning for public TV, scholarships for GRCC students, and looping systems at several local schools, Spectrum Theatre, and the Mary Free Bed YMCA.

We also provided cooking lessons and ski trips for deaf students, the annual Signing Santa at Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, hearing testing for newborns at local hospitals, the Hear For Good program rehabbing used hearing aids, hearing aids for children and adults who couldn’t afford them, and support for projects run by clubs in India and Fiji.

The fundraisers to support our efforts included 20 years of hosting the Quota Cares Golf Outing, the annual Duck Walk, the 50/50 Raffle, and many years ago, a fashion show at Steketee’s department store, an old-fashioned “Country Supper” at Ebers Orchards in Sparta, and a food booth at Grand Rapids’ Festival of the Arts.

A number of our members served in leadership roles with the larger organization throughout the years, most notably Grand Rapids’ Norma Raby, who was International President in 1980, leading Clubs in 14 countries worldwide.

Quota GR is especially proud of our partnerships with groups such as Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services, GR Community College, Kent ISD county-wide education at Northview Schools through the Total Communication and Oral Deaf programs, and Michigan Hands & Voices, who support families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

With these fine organizations doing such great work, the members of Quota GR have chosen to distribute remaining charitable funds among our local partners. We are proud of the 79 years of work we have done and the impact our advocacy and donations have had on our community. And it has been enriching and joyful for us! Members will now turn our individual efforts towards supporting those partners, finding new ways to help the deaf and hard of hearing in West Michigan.

06/07/2024

We’ve extended the deadline to get your college scholarship applications in by June 17th! You’ve still got time to apply!

06/07/2024

Some fun pics from the Quota GR 50/50 raffle at Thornapple Brewing Company! Shout out to Pam Howland, Sandi Aten, and Maureen Martin for making this fundraiser such a success!

06/07/2024

Congratulations to the winner of our 50/50 Raffle— Tony Bosco! A fun evening was had by all. A special thanks to Thornapple Brewing Company who hosted our event. The funds raised from this raffle will go back into our community to help the deaf and hard of hearing.

05/18/2024

Follow the link below to the application for a $1,000 scholarship for college students who are deaf or hard of hearing OR who are studying to work with the deaf and hard of hearing community. Apply by June 3rd!

05/16/2024

Tomorrow is the big day for our annual 50/50 Raffle! Join us at Thornapple Brewing Company 5:30 - 7:30 and buy some tickets, have dinner and a drink and see who wins. Maybe it will be you! See you there!

05/07/2024

Last chance to win a Spring Mini-Grant…applications due by this Friday, May 10th!

Quota Club of Grand Rapids offers mini-grants in alignment with our mission to support education, access, and social connections for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) in West Michigan. This grant is open to teachers (or teacher consultants) whose primary role is teaching students in....

04/26/2024

Spring is here and that means it is time for the annual Quota GR 50/50 Raffle! Here are two ways that you can support the deaf and hard of hearing in our community: 1. Buy lots of raffle tickets from one of our members AND. 2. Join us for a fun evening at Thornapple Brewing on Thursday May 16th for the big drawing!

04/03/2024

Quota Club of Grand Rapids is pleased to offer Mini Grants again this spring for teachers (or teacher consultants) of students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing! Applications are due by May 10th. Apply today!

Quota Club of Grand Rapids offers mini-grants in alignment with our mission to support education, access, and social connections for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) in West Michigan. This grant is open to teachers (or teacher consultants) whose primary role is teaching students in....

03/31/2024

Quota Club of Grand Rapids proudly supports teachers of students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing with our biannual mini grants! One of our Fall mini-grant winners, Andrea Wiersma of Holland Public Schools, recently used the $250 grant money to help fund a college visit to Gallaudet University for her students! Students were able to tour the campus, meet with admissions counselors, attend a softball game, sit in on a Deaf studies class, eat and socialize in the cafeteria, and most importantly, experience the heart of Deaf culture and Deaf community. In addition, the Deaf students visited the Signing Starbucks and the Deaf-owned Mozzeria pizza restaurant where they faced no language barriers when ordering and had wonderfully genuine experiences! Lastly, the students were able to learn and experience America's history through a tour of the Capitol Building, and a visit to the African American Museum, Holocaust Museum, White House, The Mall and all of its monuments, National Cathedral to Helen Keller's burial site and the Arlington National Cemetery.
Quota Club of Grand Rapids is proud to support Andrea and teachers like her in their efforts to teach and empower students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing! Our Spring mini grant applications open this week!