Night of Giving culminates year of Rotary fundraising
Night of Giving anchors a year-long relay race of fundraising for the Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Rotary Club.
The first leg is the organization’s annual chicken barbecue dinner followed by the counting of the cash and soliciting charitable groups to make contributions the culminating in the distribution of funds.
“This is like the baton pass, right?” Alisa James said rhetorically. “All the hard work we’ve done and then reinvest and give it back to the community and organizations.
“It’s a heartwarming event,” continued the Peters Township resident. “The fact that we reinvest in the community is one of the main reasons why I joined the rotary. It’s fun to see the fruits of our work.”
During Night of Giving held recently at Bella Sera in Canonsburg, the Rotary Club awarded more than $65,000 to 30 grant recipients.
From feeding neighbors, to supporting local veterans, to providing haircuts and lights for the homeless, to the Boy Scouts and first responders, the Rotary helped many charitable organizations.
“We sell a lot of barbecue dinners to make this happen,” said Debra Hakeem.
A Bethel Park resident, Hakeem will assume duties as Rotary secretary on June 3. ”The best part is the giveaway,” Hakeem continued. “To see the excitement in everybody’s eyes and just to know that their organization will continue to prosper is exciting and wonderful to see.”
The groups and organizations receiving checks from the Rotary Club included: Always B Smiling; Bethel Park High School Caring Closet, Bethel Park Police (traffic division); Bethel-St Clair Meals on Wheels, Cake4Kids; Camp Soles; Catholic Medical Mission Board; Crop & Kettle; Family Hospice; Familylinks’ Independence Middle School; Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania; Keystone Young Cadets; Life Builders; Light in my City; Melting Pot Ministries; Operation Troop Appreciation; South Hills BPOE 2213; Scouting America Troop 366; South Hills Keystone Chorus; South Hills Pet Rescue; Station. Winifred Food Pantry; The Asservo Project; The Neighborhood Academy; The Nyadire Connection; Upper St. Clair Township police and volunteer fire departments; WPA Police Benevolent Foundation’ Yahve-Jire Children’s Foundation and YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh.
Christine Jamison accepted the check on behalf of Family Hospice, which is under the UPMC umbrella. The director of development said Family Hospice would use the donation to purchase as many as 30 solar powered chargers that will enable patients in the home setting to remain connected to their care teams during power failures. Patients will still be able to make phone calls and use computers so as to maintain direct contact with caregivers.
“It’s wonderful for the Rotary to recognize the needs of family hospice patients and making them more comfortable especially when they’re at sensitive times of their lives and having compassion and being able to give us items that are going to benefit families and their loved ones.”
Rotary president Jessica Blake appreciates the gratitude of recipients like Jamison. It validates the purpose of the Rotary.
Blake said that Night of Giving is “special” to the Rotary. It is the culmination of the club’s hard work throughout the year.
“It’s a success story. An amazing night,” she said. “”Awarding so many different nonprofits is a great testament to our involvement in the community and commitment to service about self.”
During the Night of Giving event, members of the Keystone Chorus performed old-time favorites such as “Only You”, “God Bless America” and “The Lions Sleeps Tonight”
Event chairman Bill Findle welcomed the guests. Marshall Goldstein delivered the invocation and radio personality Bonny Diver emceed.
Members of the Rotary Club also include: Keith Apelgren, Mark Casciola, Scott Churchill, Bernie J. Cook, Tom DeRubeis, Anthony Falbo, John Giselon, Leigh Harkreader, Roger Heins, Walt Henry, David and Sue Hicks, Phil Himmler, Jaco Jordaan, Mary Kirk, Teresa Kozleuchar, Larry Lehman, Bernie Lindstrom, Jeff May, Sally Morrison, Pete Muck, John Oakes, Greg Peterson, Tom Petropoulos, Brandon Sapsara, Brian Schill, Jay Schuljof, Russ Spicuzza and James Yusko.
The Rotary meets for breakfast at 7 a.m. every Tuesday at the Porch located on Siena Drive.
Upcoming events include the USC Community Day Bake-off set for May 16 at the McLaughlin Run Road Activity Center and the Bethel Park Art and Music Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 25.
The farmers market is held every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot adjacent to the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
And of course the chicken barbecue. This year’s dinner will be held Oct. 17.
Contact Bill Findle for sponsorship information or details by emailing to bfindle@verizon.net or calling 412-983-5766.