(Image above: The generous contributions of Willamette Valley vineyards played a significant role in the club’s successful event; bottles were on display throughout the Sept. 16 festivities.)
Pearl Rotarian Jerry Baysinger, a veteran club fundraiser, has often observed that in Portland, people postpone contributing to benefit requests until late in the process…like the last week or two.
That again proved prophetic with this year’s Willamette Valley Escape Raffle. A rush in individual ticket sales coupled with $8,400 raised at the club’s in-person gala Sept. 16 brought welcomed success for the non-profit arm of PPRC.
“We doubled sales in the last week and doubled net revenue from a year ago,” Jerry reported. “The total is right at $30,000 with at least 90% going to the Pearl Fund after expenses and prizes.”
The past president and weekly songmaster further summarized:
“The Willamette Valley Escape Raffle was a smash success! Congrats to the Pearl Rotarians for stepping up to raise nearly $30,000 for the Pearl Fund. This will allow Pearl Rotary to engage in amazing projects to help people ‘Overcome Barriers.'”
“The event Monday (Sept. 16) was fun and the paddle raise was huge, netting $8,400. Special thanks to our skilled auctioneer, Corey (Omey,) for getting so many generous individuals to step up.
“So, who earned bragging rights for this event?”
43 PPRC members participated. Here are the top 10 producers (includes ticket sales and donations):
Dave Bangsund $3,165
Dawn Schneider $2,765
Don Smith $2,500
Matthew Lillard $1,900
Chris Freeman $1,805
Janet Young $1,443
Donna Tallman $1,200
Anne O’Neill $1,150
Adina Flynn $1,030
Kelly Morrow $1,020
“Thank you to everyone who participated! To our top producers, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Corey, who helped lead the effort for contributed wine and tastings, gave a shout-out to PPRC’s “partners”:
Deep connections with wineries through being a winery architect (Corey) and with Don Smith’s longstanding connections with PPRC supporters “helped us to find many of our great winery sponsors. At least one sponsor intends to become a PPRC club member! The shared values between many of the winery sponsors lead to some amazing stories and personal connections to Pearl Rotary and Rotary International.
“We send out a huge thank you to the more than fourteen generous sponsors.” Corey’s list includes:
Roserock by Domain Drouhin
Francis Tannahill
A to Z Wineworks
Rex Hill
Stoller Family Estate
Seufert
Elk Cove
Chehalem Winery
Ridgecrest Wines
Jackalope Wines
Helioterra Wines
Eagles Nest Reserve
Violet Vines
Idiots Grace Wines
David Scott, from his personal collection
Amity Flats for discount on accommodations for the grand prize (three nights in a suite for two people)
Grape Escape for wine tour transportation
Pinot Car for discount on wine tour transportation
“With six tasting gift certificates and seventy-seven bottles collected by donation and sponsorship,” he added, “we were able to give a few bottles to the highest bidders, and the last bidder, Nancy Fowler.”
For Rotarian Don Smith, who again sold the most individual tickets (250 this year), the random computerized drawing of “David Senness, St. Paul, MN” as the first-place winner was a highlight.
Don’s description: “I graduated from high school in Monticello with David in 1966 (as did my wife, Nancy). We’ve been best of friends since age 14 (freshmen) and played basketball through high school. We’ve stayed in touch all our adult lives–most recently on Minnesota trip– watching a Wolves’ playoff game in a sports bar (May) and having lunch with our wives (August). An accountant by profession, David is still practicing. I believe I caught him in his office when I called Tuesday morning.”
David is the son of a Monticello RC president; he’s been a long-time member (and past president) of the Bloomington RC. He’s on the District 5950 global grants committee and is well aware of PPRC’s Kenya project. Don added:
“At first, you may have thought, this has logistic challenges–especially getting the two cases of Oregon wine to Minnesota. But I’m expecting he’ll use this next August. They actually make an annual trip to the Northwest; David has a brother on Whidbey Island who hosts a huge summer picnic. I can see David (and Marsha) diverting to Willamette wine country before or after.”
David, in addition to the suite access and assortment of Willamette Valley wine, will also receive two days of wine country touring and tastings, plus $500 in cash. The estimated retail value is $5,000.
Also announced as winners were:
• Lois Garner, Portland, second place, two cases of wine (ticket sold by President Janet Young).
• Deb Omey, Portland, third place, one case of wine (ticket sold by her husband, Corey).
President Janet offered this closing summary:
“The weeks of raffle ticket sales over the summer culminated in a successful and fun event on Sept. 16th with the drawing of the three prize winners. Most importantly, approximately $30,000 was raised for the Pearl Fund to support the charitable projects of our club. Sincere thanks to the organizers, the ticket sellers and those who attended the event. This event exemplified the 2024/25 RI theme: ‘The Magic of Rotary.'” |
