Rotary hosting May 1 gala fundraiser

SAINT AUGUSTINE – Members of the Rotary Club of St. Augustine will host a commemorative and fundraising event to focus on 100 years of service to the community and worldwide on Friday, May 1 from 6 to 11 p.m.  at The River House, 179 Marine St.t, overlooking the Matanzas River.. Cost per person is $150 as a donation to the Rotary Club of St. Augustine Foundation, Inc., a portion of which will be tax deductible. Cocktail or Great Gatsby era attire is requested.

The event will benefit Rotary International, along with Alpha Omega Miracle Home and Wildflower Healthcare, both in St. Augustine. Additionally, the community is invited to support the fundraiser through sponsorships, donations of goods and services, gift cards, and other items. To purchase tickets, visit the website at https://staugustinerotary.org/rotary-100/. Call 904.377.0832 for more information. All proceeds from the event will be processed through the Club’s Foundation.

According to Peggy Gachet, Rotary Club of St. Augustine’s President and Broker Associate with Watson Realty Corp., the event theme will be the Spring of 1920 when the “Roaring Twenties” started a decade of historic milestones and the founding of the Rotary Club of St. Augustine on April 10, 1920. A silent auction, live music, dinner, and drinks will be featured at the May fundraiser, plus other entertainment including memorabilia displays, recognition of local legends, and hall of fame individuals and families will be honored.

“Our club history began with weekly meetings held at the original downtown St. Augustine Ponce de Leon Hotel when it was open in the winter season and also at several other hotels around the city during the off-season,” said Gachet. “We welcome members and their guests, and non-members to enjoy an evening of memories and great entertainment.”

The Rotary Club of St. Augustine meets every Monday from 12 pm until 1 pm except for recognized holidays at the Casa Monica Hotel located in downtown St. Augustine. The organization is dedicated to making a difference in the Nation’s Oldest City and beyond with fundraising and volunteerism for community and social service agencies. The club was founded through the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Fla. Later, the St. Augustine Club sponsored the Rotary Club of Hastings, the Sunrise Rotary Club, St. Augustine Beach Rotary Club, Daytona Beach Rotary Club, and Rotary Club of Flagler County.

“For decades our club has made substantial financial contributions to worthy projects locally and internationally. We are proud and pleased to present the gala event,” said Gachet. As Rotarians, members are dedicated to the organization’s international motto, “Service Above Self”. For more information, visit the website at https://staugustinerotary.org or email info@staugustinerotary.org. Visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StAugustineRotary and Twitter at https://twitter.com/StAugRotaryClub.

Rotary International is an international service organization with more than 1.2 million members and a purpose to bring together business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in their local communities and the world. It is a secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference.