Night of Giving: Rotary distributes funds to area organizations
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
The Upper St Clair-Bethel Park Rotary donated $52,521 to some 21 charitable organizations and community groups during its annual Night of Giving, held April 20 at Valley Brook Country Club.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Elaine Shedd, Scott Churchill, Bill Findle and Mary Kirk helped organize the Rotary Night of Giving.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Rotary president Sally Morrison (right) introduces 3WS personality Bonny Diver for the grant presentations during the Rotary Club’s Night of Giving.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Upper St. Clair volunteer firefighter R.J. Jurik along with Confluence employees Brian Stout and Morgan Lee socialize during the Rotary’s Night of Giving.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Christine McIntosh and Mary Alice Moore from the Bethel Park Library were among the guests attending the Rotary Night of Giving. They accepted a grant to be used for signage at the library.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Bernie Lindstrom (center) shared an evening of good conversation and fun with Marshall and Sandy Goldstein during the Rotary’s Night of Giving.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Erik Wiesemann of Upper St. Clair demonstrates a luminAid that can be used by the homeless. Money he received during the Rotary’s Night of Giving will benefit his charitable organization, Light My City.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Diane Smith and Cynthia Wessel sample some of the fare at the Rotary Night of Giving. The nuns were guests at the event and accepted a financial grant for their charitable organization, Sisters Place Inc.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ross Opeka and Ginelle Kemmerling were among the sponsors attending the Rotary’s Night of Giving.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Dennis and Dorothy Vandroff represented the Bethel-St. Clair Meals on Wheels program at the Rotary Night of Giving.
Jim Lybarger of Bethel Park accepts a check from Scott Churchill for the YMCA’s Camp Aim during the Rotary Night of Giving.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Rotary President Sally Morrison (center) engages Erik Wiesemann from Light My City and John Laboon from Horses With Hope Inc. in conversation during the organization’s Night of Giving.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Rotary president Sally Morrison led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance before distributing over $52,000 in grants to 21 charitable organizations.
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Scott Churchill presents Dean and Kristin Huibregtse with a check for their organization Always B Smiling Inc. As executive director and president, the Huibregtses created their organization {span}to honor their son, Bennett, who died of kidney disease and to support children, families, and caregivers with life challenges by offering support and experiences that will inspire. {/span}
Marshall and Sandy Goldstein remember the first fundraiser the Rotary Upper St. Clair-Bethel Park Breakfast Club orchestrated.
“In 30 days, we put together a chicken barbecue. We worked really hard and raised money for two children that needed bone marrow transplants,” Marshall said.
The Rotary netted $8,000 from that first chicken dinner and donated $4,000 to each family for treatments. More than three decades later, the organization raised $52,521. The Rotary distributed the money to some 21 organizations during its annual Night of Giving, held April 20 at Valley Brook Country Club in McMurray.
“It’s a wonderful event,” said Marshall. “All of these groups are wonderful charities that are doing wonderful work.”
According to Bernie Lindstrom, the selection process is just as “diligent” and the Rotarians work just as hard to select deserving recipients. “The funds really do go to those that need it the most,” he said.
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.
“This is the culmination of a whole year’s worth of raising funds for the community,” said Bill Findle, who welcomed both grant recipients and sponsors. “We give away over $50,000 to many deserving charities and groups that do wonderful things in the community. We do it every year.”
For Elaine Shedd, it was the second time, she had a hand in planning the Night of Giving. She helped chair the event with Findle, Mary Kirk and Scott Churchill.
“This is my second time as I am newer to the Rotary,” she said. “It’s a wonderful event to learn about so many people who do great things in the community.”
Kirk said that putting together the Night of Giving is easier than pulling off a successful barbecue each year. It’s simple, she said.
“It’s the best night of the year because it’s what we work for all year. All the hard work we put into the barbecue culminates in this event where we get to celebrate these charities and organizations. It’s why we do what we do.”
Recipients are grateful for the efforts of the Rotary and for the evening, emceed by 3WS personality Bonny Driver.
“We are thrilled to be recognized by the Rotary and to accept our grant,” said Christine McIntosh from the Bethel Park Library.
“It will be a big help. Great,” added Mary Alice Moore, also from the library.
While the library planned to use its funds for new signage to empower young readers to find items on their own, Cynthia Wessel and Diane Smith intended to use their grant for Sisters Place Inc., which provides temporary housing for women with children experiencing homelessness. The donation will help residents reach their housekeeping goals and provide for grooming needs, such as a barber and hairdresser.
“We are trying to help get them back on their feet,” said the nuns of the organization’s objectives.
In addition to the library and Sisters Place, the Rotary awarded grants to Always B Smiling, the Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair police departments as well as the USC Volunteer Fire Department, which will use its donation to purchase a portable tool to assist with rescues, particularly during automobile accidents.
Dorothy Vandroff has seen the hard work of Rotarians first hand. She and her husband, Dennis, work for Bethel-St. Clair Meals on Wheels. They were attending the Night of Giving for their second time.
“A couple of the folks in the Rotary are volunteers with me,” Vandroff said. “I told them one time, ‘Why don’t you tell me about the barbecue dinner? I could hang signs. I could sell tickets. I can help.’ Ever since then, I’ve been one of the guys,” she chuckled. “The barbecue is the highlight event in October, and the Night of Giving is the highlight of the spring.”
In addition to donating funds to Crop and Kettle, Center Stage Gala, Boy Scout Troop 366, Horses with Hope, Light in my City, the MS Society’s Team MeatFightEast, Operation Troop Appreciation, St. Winifred Food Pantry, The Nadir Connection, USC choral boosters, Watchful Shepherd, Western PA Police Benevolent Foundation, Yahveh Jire Children’s Foundation US and the YMCA’s Camp Aim, the Rotary recognized its many sponsors.
Ross Opeka and Ginelle Kemmerling as well as Brian Stout and Morgan Lee from Confluence Wealth Management acknowledged their roles but noted the greater importance of service.
Opeka said sponsoring Rotary events are vital because they are for a great cause. “It’s an awesome organization and we love to be part of the community.”
Stout and Lee agreed. They are from the community originally and see how things have come full circle with their affiliation with the Rotary. “It’s extremely important,” Stout said of sponsorship. “It’s for the community.”
Visit www.uscbprotary.org or call 412-951-7542 to learn more about Rotary or to inquire about membership.