The Rotary Club of Oak Bay held its annual fundraising dinner on May 10 at the Monterey Recreation Centre.
More than 200 Rotarians and their guests were warmly welcomed with a hurricane cocktail while they perused silent auction items donated by Rotarians, friends, businesses and organizations from around Victoria. A traditional New Orleans dinner catered by the Monterey Recreation Centre was followed by a live auction.
In thanking the club members and other supporters for their excellent teamwork, co-chair of the event, Rotarian and Past District Governor Joan Firkins announced that Mardi Gras Madness raised more than $18,000.
The event was supported by more than 80 businesses and organizations from Greater Victoria including the municipality of Oak Bay, the parks and recreation commission and members of the Interact Club of Oak Bay High school. The funds raised by the event will go to support Oak Bay community youth projects.
Over the past decade, through several fund raising events such as the Canada Flag Program, the Merrython, poinsettia sales, car raffle, Jail ‘n’ Bail and the annual dinner, members of the Rotary Club of Oak Bay have raised an average of $25,000 per year to support local community and youth literacy programs and another $25,000 per year to support international humanitarian programs.
Over the past years the club has contributed to the Carnarvon Water Park, the Oak Bay Teen Centre, Oak Bay Interact Club, Youth Leadership, Habitat for Humanity, Greater Victoria Eldercare Foundation, Mustard Seed, George Jay Elementary, Quadra Elementary and MacAulay School’s literacy programs to name a few.
The club is a major supporter of the Rotary Foundation which enables Rotarians throughout the world to carry out projects related to health, hunger and humanity.