Sunrise Rotary To Hold its Beneficiary Bash June 13

Westport Sunrise Rotary will present awards totaling $30,300 to 27 Fairfield County charities at its First Beneficiary Bash on Wednesday, June 13 at 5:30 at Christ and Holy Trinity Church, Westport.  Representatives of each of the organizations will join club members to receive their donation then join in a wine and light hors d'oeuvres celebration.

In addition to supporting area charities, Sunrise Rotary is active in its community – serving meals at the Gillespie Center, helping at the Westport Library’s Summer Book Sale in July, running food drives and holding an annual clean up day around exit 17.

The club also supports international projects, the largest of which is End Polio Now, a program begun by Rotary International in 1985.  It has raised over $1.2 billion and has received a $255 million Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation challenge grant.  Polio today is on the verge of extinction worldwide.

Funding for the club’s charitable giving is raised at two major events, the Great Duck Race in June and a Wine Tasting in October.

The Great Duck Race will be held June 30 in Parker Harding Plaza, on the east bank of the Saugatuck River.  At 1:00 p.m. almost 3,000 numbered small plastic ducks will be dropped into the river, corralled, then set free to ride the current downstream.

The duck arriving at the finish line first wins a $5,000 prize for its ticket owner.  The second place finisher yields a $2,500 prize, and the next eight win prizes totaling another $2,500.

Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased from any club member until race time.  Tickets may also be purchased from race sponsors, including at Fairfield County Bank on the Post Road at South Compo Road, at TD Bank on Main Street

The Duck Race is being supported by 23 corporate, organization and individual sponsors.  The three lead sponsors are Westport Downtown Merchants Association, Fairfield County Bank and Melissa & Doug.  They and many of the other 20 sponsors will join the club at the Beneficiary Bash.

The Wine Tasting is an evening for sampling a selection of fine wines, enjoying a variety of cheeses and hors d'oeuvres and a carving table buffet and bidding on goods and services donated by local merchants at silent and live auctions.

The event is open to all, without charge.

Westport Sunrise Rotary (http://www.westportsunriserotary.com/) is a diverse group of business and professional leaders who contribute their time, talents and financial support to aid local charities, youth programs and international humanitarian programs.  They are dedicated to encouraging high ethical standards and to helping Rotary International build goodwill and peace throughout the world.  Westport Sunrise Rotary participates with 1.8 million fellow Rotarians in 33,000 clubs around the world to uphold Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”.  People interested in learning more are invited to attend a meeting, every Friday at 7:30 a.m. at BobbyQ’s Restaurant, 42 Main Street, Westport.