Rotary Happenings: Rotarians donated about $103K last year to causes
If you look through the local island newspapers, you may see several checks being donated to one of the many island non-profits with a wide range of causes. The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club is one of the many donors with causes local to our immediate Sanibel community, greater Fort Myers community, throughout the United States and internationally. The financial activity throughout the 2020-21 year, especially with COVID-19, was impressive. Rotary, thankfully, was able to hold its Arts & Crafts Festival in February, just prior to the restrictions that closed down so many other groups’ fundraisers.
The pandemic had the club re-evaluate the possibility of holding group fundraisers and led to the creation of a new golf tournament, The Charity Cup, that was able to maintain safe social distancing yet still raise funds for our causes. The Howard S. Danner Jr. Wheels for Wheels Cycling Challenge, a fundraiser for raising funds dedicated to the purchase of wheelchairs for those who need but cannot purchase them, also continued one as cycling can be completed with safe distancing as well.
On Sanibel, the club donated to F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva, The Community House, BIG ARTS, Baileys-Matthews National Shell Museum and supported four college students. Within the off-island community, it supported the Harry Chapin Food Bank and the District Mobile Disaster Equipment. Within the United States, the club donated to the Rotary Endowment, Shelterbox and the District CART Program. Internationally, the club supported the Grass Project in Haiti, The Ripple Effect in Guatemala, Oxygen Generators in Peru and the Rotary Foundation — Polio Plus program. A total of $103,307 was donated to the above projects and organizations, during a lean year. Imagine the good that can be shared during a “normal” year of fundraising.
The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club holds a meeting on Fridays at 7:30 a.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, and via Zoom; doors open at 7 a.m. To attend in person, email Bill Harkey at William.Harkey@gmail.com by the Tuesday before the meeting. For more information, visit sanibelrotary.org or www.facebook.com/sancaprotary.