Wheeling Rotarians Donate $22,000 to King’s Daughters Child Care Center

Eric Ayres

WHEELING - The Rotary Club of Wheeling held its year-end Changing of the Guard luncheon on Tuesday at Oglebay Park, where a check in the amount of $22,000 was presented to King’s Daughter’s Child Care.

Each year, club members select a local beneficiary to receive money from the club’s big annual fundraiser. This year, the Rotary club did a "presto, change-o" to its routine, hosting a new event which featured locally based but nationally known mentalist Craig Karges.

"We used to do the Taste of the Market, but we thought we would spice it up, so we asked Craig to provide his services, and we did a show up at the Wild West," said Daniel Young, who served as president of the Wheeling Rotary Club over the past year.

The sold-out show at The West at Stratford Springs was a tremendous success, Young said.

"We raised $22,000 … and with a generous matching grant, this $22,000 is actually $44,000 for King’s Daughters," Young noted, handing one big ceremonial check and one regular-sized "real" check to Jamie Remp, executive director for King’s Daughters, and applauding her for her efforts to bring more child care to the area. "We thank her for all of her work in the community, as we know we need child care desperately across the country and most especially in the Ohio Valley."

King’s Daughters is currently undergoing a major expansion at its facility in East Wheeling, and the donation from Rotary will help provide funding to complete the ambitious undertaking.

"It’s a wonderful addition to our expansion," Remp said of Rotary’s donation, noting that King’s Daughter’s expansion that is presently in the works is expected to cost around $2.5 million when all is said and done. "All of the money from this fundraiser will be going toward the expansion project."

Remp noted that thanks to a matching grant through the Ann Sonneborn Charitable Foundation, the Rotary donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, doubling its impact for the cause. King’s Daughters has been successful in raising and securing funds to cover most of the project costs, holding Dragon Boat Races as a fundraiser and receiving $500,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds through the city of Wheeling.

Ground was broken in March for the child care center’s expansion, and work is underway on the new addition, but additional funds are still needed to reach the $2.5 million goal.

"We still have a little bit more to raise," Remp said. "We have about $2.3 million."

Remp noted that the last couple of hundred thousand dollars will be to cover contingencies and for hiring and training of staff members.

"The addition should be done late this year," she said, noting that the expanded facility should be welcoming new children for enrollment at the beginning of 2025.

Operating on a year that runs from July to June, the Rotary Club of Wheeling’s Changing of the Guard luncheon had the group assemble for a special catered picnic at Oglebay. The event provided a platform for the check presentation and also gave the club an opportunity to recognize members who served as officers and committee members over the past year. The club also recognized members being installed as new officers who will take over duties beginning in July.

The Changing of the Guard brings new officers on board next month, including Anthony "Rico" Ruiz as new president, along with President-elect Jamie Crow, Vice President Betsy Bethel-McFarland, Treasurer Shelly Carenbauer, Secretary Tabitha Kinneer and Sergeant-at-Arms Roger Warren. Young will also be an officer with the title of immediate past president.

Rotarians meet each Tuesday at noon at WesBanco arena with weekly speakers for the program, a fellowship lunch and various service-related activities aimed at improving the community. In addition to the big annual donation to a worthy local recipient, the club’s efforts also include help with the Dream Center and its backpack ministry, work with the Adopt a Highway litter cleanup and other charitable ventures.

"Rotary gives us a platform - an outlet to do better and to encourage those who need help," Young said. "I think this group, especially - if we can be available, if we can participate and if we can volunteer - I think this club will sustain, continue and be strong for many years to come."

The Wheeling Rotary Club is always accepting new members who are eager to get involved with work to help their community. The club is part of an international organization of civic-minded community leaders. The best way to find out about becoming a member of Rotary is to attend a meeting as a guest of a current member. For more information, visit https://rotarywheeling.org/ or check out the club’s official Facebook page.