December started out with a bang. Our 25th anniversary Holiday House Tour was our biggest fundraiser ever!
The HHT Co-Chairs, Rose Campbell and Keven Stokes, along with a dedicated team, generous homeowners, talented decorators and designers, community partners and sponsors, hundreds of volunteers, and months of preparation produced an extravaganza that truly reflects the Magic of the Season and the Magic of Rotary.
In response to our $10,000 donation to the Ronald MacDonald Lounge at the Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines, Tim Lutton and Stewart Istvan hopped on a bus full of fellow Rotarians from St. Catharines Clubs and participated in the Ronald MacDonald Light Up the House event in Hamilton.
Our members described it as an outstanding, uplifting, positive experience.
The Niagara on the Lake Historical Museum received our 3rd donation of $5,000 for its Expansion Project. Five annual donations are pledged for a total of $25,000.
On behalf of the club, Chris Hatch and Jeannie Manning visited the Community Crew Lunch Program at the Community Church on York Road. This program is fueled by hands on volunteers serving 33 elementary schools, 1400 children, 4,000 lunches, Tuesday – Thursday every week school is in session in the Niagara Region. They are currently confirming the need in NOTL’s elementary schools. Our club donated funds for a badly needed commercial refrigerator in the amount of $2034.
Our Team served 98 clients at the St. George Breakfast Program this month.$1800 was donated by our club to fund the food for one month.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our Team, let Jeannie know.
On behalf of our club, Chris Hatch and Jeannie Manning visited the offices of Big Brothers Big Sisters Niagara in St. Catharines to present them with a cheque for $4500.
They have identified 3 children in NOTL who are waiting for a Mentor.
One child has been waiting 32 months!
Our funds will pay for the training of 3 mentors.
A request for members interested in learning more about the program from the perspective of volunteering to be a mentor was circulated earlier. If anyone missed it and is interested in learning more, please contact Chris Hatch or Jeannie Manning.
International Youth Exchange Program Committee members: Betty Disero and Jeannie Manning, in conjunction with members of the Rotary Clubs of St. Catharines, interviewed 5 potential candidates for the 2025 Outbound student program. Our club will sponsor 2 deserving students: Ellie Gibson and Enzo Coletti, both from NOTL, will be continuing on to the District rounds of interviews on January 11 & 12. Carter Lalonde, our current Outbound student continues to enjoy his year in Spain. His 3rd month report was sent out to all Rotarians via ClubRunner in mid-December. Meanwhile our Inbound student, Emil has moved to Jason Lalonde’s home in Virgil. Please include him in your plans. He is almost halfway through his year with us.
On January 9, at 11:00 am, all members are invited to attend the cheque presentation to Family and Children’s Services in Welland.The presentation will take place at the building that our $25,00 donation will help transform into a home for children currently sent outside of their city.
This is an opportunity to be involved in a great project from the ground up.
Carpooling is available. Please let Chris Hatch know if you wish to attend.
In closing 2024, our club members gathered for fun and fellowship at the NOTL Golf Club for our annual Holiday Party.
Steve Hinchliffe arranged a great buffet dinner, a fun and competitive Trivia game and Emil received Socks for Christmas.
There is a back story so ask him why!
Wishing Everyone a Happy New Year! Here’s to 2025!