Rotaract Gala

Hamilton-McMaster Rotaract Club Raises $4,000 for Polio Eradication Efforts

On March 19, 2010, the Hamilton-McMaster Rotaract Club, based at McMaster University, hosted its third annual Gala Fundraiser, just one of many community and international service projects club members take on each year. This year, Rotary’s PolioPlus immunization program was selected to receive the proceeds of the fundraising effort, which totaled $2,600. This adds to other fundraising efforts undertaken by the club, including button sales and bake sales, for a grand total of $4,000 for PolioPlus.

The Gala Fundraiser, held at McMaster’s University Club, brought together Rotaractors and Rotarians from Hamilton, Brantford, St. Catherines, and surrounding areas, as well as members of the broader McMaster and Hamilton communities. It was a particularly special occasion as the Hamilton-McMaster Rotaract Club was celebrating its 10^th anniversary. The University Club generously donated the premises for the event. Highlights of the evening included a moving keynote speech from polio survivor and author Janice Nichols; Bollywood dance performance by dance group DK Dance Pak; and silent auction items and raffle prizes generously donated by individuals and businesses in the community, including a very special raffle for “A Year of Rotary” which included tickets to Rotary and Rotaract Gala events throughout the following year donated by clubs throughout the District.

The Gala topped off the year’s fundraising efforts for PolioPlus, which included a button campaign designed to raise not only funds but also awareness of the current state of polio in the world. This was the fourth year the club has run its “Polio Button” campaign, featuring small pins designed by 2009-10 Club President Kelsey Shorten.

The funds will contribute to Rotary’s $200 Million Challenge to match $355 million in challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The resulting $555 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children.

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer service club for young adults aged 18 to 30 years. There are more than 160,000 members in over 7,000 clubs worldwide.

For more information please visit:

http://hamiltonmcmasterrotaract.webs.com