The Tuscaloosa Rotary Memorial Foundation (TRMF) was created by the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa in 1971, as a separate legal entity to provide a vehicle for tax-deductible contributions for local service. Our Community Projects are listed below:

2014-2016 Projects – Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center (CAC) & The Salvation Army Social Services Center and Homeless Shelter.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center (CAC) is located in the former Allen & Jemison Warehouse Co. building located on the corner of 7th Street and Greensboro Avenue on the same block as the Bama Theatre. The CAC is a hub for the arts in Tuscaloosa and houses a black box theatre/workshop space which is perfect for family programming, educational opportunities and rehearsal space or community meeting space for rent. In addition, the CAC houses offices for local arts groups and two gallery spaces; one for the University of Alabama and one for the Arts Council. 

 Built in 1903, the four-story, 50,000 square-foot red brick building has a special place in the hearts of Tuscaloosa residents. As the Allen & Jemison Warehouse Co. many community members fondly remember visiting the store for everything from wood and nails to wedding china. The pneumatic tubing system used for cashiers to send money to the mezzanine level in the back of the building and have change sent to the front of the store is still in the ceiling.

Dinah Washington was a jazz and blues vocalist and pianist born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The “Queen of Blues” Washington has been cited as the most popular black female recording artist of the ‘50’s. She is a 1986 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. 

The Salvation Army Social Services Center and Homeless Shelter will be located at 2902 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405.  Our social services center will service individuals and families that reside within Bibb, Fayette, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties.  Families that have an identifiable need can be provided with food, toiletry items, clothing vouchers to the Salvation Army thrift store which is located in Northport and furniture if they have experienced a loss of possessions due to a disaster. 

The Salvation Army homeless shelter will now have a total of 88 beds.  The living areas will be divided into four separate areas for single men, single women, families and veterans.  All of our clients will undergo intensive case management with the main goal/objective being to locate and obtain permanent housing.  Clients will be offered individual and group counseling, pastoral counseling, G.E.D. classes, substance abuse counseling, financial management seminars and job readiness preparation.  Every client will be assigned a social worker that will assist them in the following processes:  signing up for social security disability benefits, VA compensation, SNAP(Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program) benefits, vocational rehabilitation (if eligible) and collegiate courses.  We understand that every client is different and that when and if given the opportunity for change, the vast majority is not only appreciative but will use the tools given enabling them to once again become successful and productive members of society.

Our mission at Salvation Army is ensuring that human needs are met without discrimination.  It is very important to us to give back to the communities that have given so much to us.

 

2011– Caring Days
2008 — $10,000 for United Cerebral Palsy Butterfly Park
2005 — $10,000 for Strings in Schools seed money
2005 — $30,000 for assistance in acquiring and developing property for Family Resource Center 2005 — $25,000 for renovation and equipping of facilities for A Woman’s Place (substance-abuse residential treatment program)
2002 — $25,000 for renovation and repairs to the Rotary International Student Center. 2002 — $25,000 for construction of the Girl Scouts Activity Center.
1998 — $20,000 to the Tuscaloosa County Arts Council for the Bama Theatre Silver Screen renovation project.
1998 — $55,000 for assistance in renovation of the Tuscaloosa Public Library.
1994 — $20,000 for restoration of the Jemison-Van deGraaff Mansion.
1994 — $42,150 for the new facilities capital funds project at the Salvation Army.
1991 — $50,000 for the Book Fund Campaign at the Tuscaloosa Public Library. 
1985 — $25,000 for renovation and equipping of the activity room at FOCUS on Senior Citizens.
1985 — $25,000 for the planetarium display at Childrens Hands-On Museum.
1981 – $26,000 for construction of the Dexter Hulsart Reception Center at the Boy Scouts Camp Horne.
1981 — $25,000 for renovation of the Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa.
1979 — $25,000 to establish and equip the Rotary Community Room at the Tuscaloosa Public Library.
1976 — $100,000 seed money to initiate the open-heart surgery suite at DCH Regional Medical Center.
1973 — $60,000 to renovate and equip a UA Campus building, establishing the Rotary International Student Center. Annual amounts of $4,000 (often more) have provided for maintenance and furniture replacement. 

From our first project in 1972-73 to the present, Rotary has raised and contributed more than $750,000. (Grant amounts below plus RISC $4000/year for 35 years) Examples of Rotary Community Service are visible in club support of Boy-and-Girl Scouts, the DCH Open-Heart Surgery Suite, FOCUS on Senior Citizens, the Tuscaloosa Public Library, Strings in Schools, the Childrenʼs Hands-on Museum, Bama Theatre, Salvation Army, Honor Flight for WWII veterans, Tornado Relief, and other social service projects. 

 

TRMF board elects three members each year by the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, serving staggered 3-year terms; Incumbent Club President is a One-Year Board Member President Jim Shamblin Vice Pres. Rufus Lewis Secretary Treasurer Bill Jessup To 2010: J.G. Brazil, Bill Jessup, Rufus Lewis To 2011: Carolyn Dahl, Charles Durham, Jim Shamblin To 2012: Stan Bloom, Jim Drake, Kellee Reinhart