Nov. 29, 2002 – The Rotary Club of St. Croix is holding a raffle and dinner to raising funds for its wheelchair project. The club's goal is to provide wheelchairs for every person on St. Croix who needs one.
Through a partnership between Rotary International and the Wheelchair Foundation, the local club will be able to bring 240 wheelchairs to the island next spring.
"Our club is in the process of raising $18,000 to be met by a matching grant from the Wheelchair Foundation which will enable us to bring the wheelchairs here," Tom Baldauf, club president, said. "The total cost for 240 chairs is $36,000, and through the matching grant and the generosity of two of our members, who each donated $5,000 to the project, we are well on the way to reaching our goal."
To raise the remaining $8,000 the club has two upcoming fundraisers: a raffle and a wine pairing dinner. "We have great prizes for the raffle," Baldauf said. "The grand prize if a seven-day cruise for two on Sea Dream II, which includes roundtrip airfare from St. Croix to St. Thomas on Cape Air; the first prize is roundtrip tickets for two to anywhere American Airlines flies in the continental U.S.; and third is four days and three nights at the Buccaneer Hotel, which includes breakfast."
The club is only selling 500 raffle tickets. The cost is $20 each. The raffle winners will be announced at the wine pairing dinner.
The dinner will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7, at The Brass Parrot Restaurant. Chef and Rotarian Dennis Giancontiere has put together a fabulous menu. Each course will be matched with an enchanting wine. Tickets are limited and are available from club members.
The Rotary Club will have a table set up at this week's Jump-Up, where they will have raffle and dinner tickets available. Baldauf urged people to come early to get tickets: "When people hear why we are raising money they don't hesitate to buy raffle tickets. I am afraid we're not going to have enough for everyone that wants them."
Confident they will be able to raise the funds, the Rotary Club has already ordered the chairs. When the chairs are delivered, the Rotary Club will hold a grand affair to distribute a wheelchair to every person on St. Croix who needs one. "It will be a wonderful day," Baldauf said.
For more information, contact the club president at 778-1992 or the club secretary at 778-0386 or e-mail coralbrief@yahoo.com.
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