The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset-Morning Edition recently distributed $5,000 to several local charitable organizations.

The recipients and amounts given are Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley, $1,000; For The Troops, $1,000; Simi Valley Hospital Foundation, $1,000; Free Clinic of Simi Valley, $1,000; CASA, $500; and Ventura County Sheriff K-9 Search and Rescue, $500.

The club has three major fundraisers each year that raise the funds for these donations: 5K/10K Gator Run, Howl-OWeen Pooch Parade and Oktoberfest.

In the past year the club had already donated almost $7,000 to a variety of community organizations, more than $10,000 to youth organizations and more than $9,000 to international projects.

Some of these organizations are Ventura County Special Olympics, Care & Share, Samaritan Center, Simi Valley Senior Center, Boys & Girls Club programs, Pawz and Clawz Pet Rescue; ethics seminar and YMCA programs.

The club also gives dictionaries to every Simi Valley secondgrader and provides scholarships, Thanksgiving turkeys and clothing, shoes and school supplies to underprivileged children.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious and open to all cultures, races and creeds.

The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset-Morning Edition meets every Wednesday at 7 a.m. at the Grand Vista Hotel in Simi Valley. Guests are welcome.