Wheeling Rotary Club Celebrates Standout Year
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WHEELING -- A banner year for the Wheeling chapter of Rotary International saw tens of thousands of dollars raised for local causes.
The success of their fundraising efforts was celebrated Tuesday afternoon at the Rotary Changing of the Guard, held at Oglebay Park. Most recently, Rabbi Joshua Lief, who serves as president of the Rotary Club, said the club raised $21,000 from its Taste of the Market held in late May. The proceeds went to Laughlin Memorial Chapel and the YMCA, each receiving a donation of $10,500.
Lief said the Rotary Club had its best year ever in terms of fundraising, which benefitted numerous agencies and causes, from the Bethlehem Apostolic Temple's numerous programs to getting down-and-dirty cleaning up litter on the roadside.
"It was nearly triple what we'd ever raised in the past," Lief said. "It was also our biggest year of supporting many of our other programs. In the past, we've given $1,000 or $1,500 to Rev. (Darrell) Cummings for his back-to-school program - this year we gave $12,000. We packed 20,000 meals in Rise Against Hunger with our friends from the Rotary Clubs of Moundsville and New Martinsville."
The donation to Cummings' back-to-school program was so successful, that the funding carried over to the next two projects the Temple undertook, helping fund both the Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways as well.
"We raised $12,000 for the Sons of the American Revolution to help move the McColloch's Leap monument. We formalized our Adopt-A-Highway, we have National Road from Perkins to Greenwood Cemetery, and we picked up litter three times this year, and we'll continue that three times a year," Lief added.
Lief said he was extremely happy at the good work the club had been able to accomplish over the year, and hoped to continue their success heading into the start of their next year.
"The city is going through a wonderful time of growth, development and excitement, and the Rotary Club is proud to be a full partner in making our community become a better place for everyone with whom we share it."