Westfield-Mayville news
POLLO & POLIO
The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville was honored to have DG Marlee Diehl and her husband Bill Diehl at its May 13 Chicken BBQ & Auction in Westfield, NY/USA. The Diehls and over 200 attendees supported this Rotary club’s largest fundraiser of the year. Highlights included a Chiavetta's Catering freshly grilled on site barbecued dinner, a live auction for 45 items and experiences, a silent auction with over 100 items, gift baskets and certificates, and three different raffles (for a stainless steel grill and a gift basket, a “Canister of Cash,” and a 50/50).
In addition, there was an informational display about polio eradication efforts and this Rotary club’s PolioPlus Challenge. During the event, DG Marlee spoke about the many good deeds of our Rotary clubs. She stated, “Remember, we are really close to ending this terrible, totally preventable disease of polio in the world. Your help in this fight is so very important.” Pictured, President Mike Harrington and DG Marlee stand in front of a special display about this club's PolioPlus Challenge and RI's PolioPlus campaign.
Then, Jim Wakeman, chair of the club's Rotary Foundation, explained how every $1US donated to the club’s PolioPlus Challenge by the spring of 2018 will become $6 US. An anonymous local foundation has offered to match the club’s funds raised up to $10,000 in the fight against polio. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given RI a 2:1 match up to $35 million per year until June 30, 2018. Thus, the $10,000 that the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville plans to raise will become $60,000, after the matching amounts are added. RI and The Rotary Foundation will apply these funds to its global PolioPlus campaign to eradicate polio. This amount will provide polio vaccinations for well over 60,000 children! A PolioPlus Challenge “jug” was passed from table to table during this club’s BBQ & Auction, and $267 was donated to this cause.The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville’s recent Chicken BBQ & Auction was co-chaired by Tom Berkhouse, Treasurer, and Janese Berkhouse, President-Elect. The event co-chairs and other members of this club extend their gratitude to DG Marlee and Bill, as well as many others, for attending and showing their support. Pictured are DG Marlee and Bill Diehl (after enjoying their BBQ), scanning the auction catalogue for items to bid on.