By Leonie James
Posted: 26 March 2014
Following our huge Book Fair effort last weekend I decided to take a look at other Rotary Clubs around the world to see how they raise funds for their community work.
The Westfield Rotary club in New Jersey have been holding an annual Pancake Breakfast for the past 48 years! This is held at the local High School cafeteria on a Saturday morning from 8 a.m. until noon. Tickets cost $10 at the door with all proceeds supporting the Rotary Scholarship Fund and Rotary Community Service Grants.
This year’s event also featured a 50-50 cash raffle, live entertainment by the Westfield High School and Intermediate School Jazz Bands and a variety of other school extra-curricular performing musical groups. A children’s fair, sponsored by the Westfield Area Y, with Moonwalk, face painting, spin art, balloons and many other activities was also available for families to enjoy.
Local youth organizations, including the Westfield High School Rotary Interact Club and Elementary School Early Act Clubs, Westfield Area Y Leaders Club, Black Achievers Club and Boy Scouts volunteered to support the pancake breakfast.
The event is the Rotary Club’s major fundraiser for the year, according to event chairman Michael Miller. “Last year, we gave over $60 thousand in community grants and over $90 thousand in scholarships to Westfield students,” said Miller. “Over the years, we have given nearly $3 million to Westfield students. And so, when the Westfield community supports Rotary by participating in Pancake Day, everyone in town is a potential beneficiary. We know our tradition will continue for many years to come.”
Great effort!