Proceeds benefit Polio Plus, R. I.
HIGHLANDS – The local Rotary club held a fund raiser, their 13th Annual 3- Hole Washer Board Charity Tournament last Saturday, Sept. 14 at Charlie’s Ice House. About 25 two-person teams competed for the top three places.
The event also included a live and silent auction and raffle, and the club was able to raise about $7000 thanks to the support of the community.
Polio, once a disease that attacked children and adults all around the world, leaving them crippled, has been almost eradicated through the efforts of the Rotary International. Only Afghanistan and Pakistan have a few active cases, but inoculation with the vaccine continues throughout the world.
Since 1985, Rotary has raised $1.7 billion for mass vaccination, immunizing more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries.
The Highlands Rotary Club, along with thousands of other Rotary clubs around the world, support this effort to eradicate polio as one of their primary charities.
This year the Washer Tournament was able to raise about $7000, of which half will go directly to the polio effort, and the other half to R.I. for national programs. In the future, Highlands can apply for a grant that will fund a local project.
The tournament is held each year at Charlie’s Ice House on N. Main Street in Highlands. This benefit event is only the second one each year by the club, with the Chili Feast in February the main money raiser for club and community activities.
There are three top prizes in the tournament, with cash awards. Winners this year were:
— 1st Place, BACK TO BACK CHAMPS, team members Justin Graves and Michael Harrell. This team also won last year.
— 2nd Place, STOCKWELLS, team members Tracy Stockwell and Theron Stockwell.
— 3rd Place, MONEY IN THE BANK, team members Ryan Dagley and Jason Meyer.
Dagley is president of the North Shore Rotary Club this year, and was attending with other members of the club and District 5890, including Bill Palko, Scott Stephens, and others.
Rotary’s exchange student from Brazil, Eduardo Sanchez, was also there for a fun afternoon.