With 245 lobsters, 40 pounds of butter, 14 boxes of organic greens and 20 heads of lettuce served, Ogopogo Rotary Club of Kelowna raised $40,000 from the 15th annual Lobster Dinner, Dance and Auction on June 2 at Parkinson Recreation Centre.
EZ Rock’s Andy and Tj were on hand to MC, as event organizers declared the event a huge success,entertaining 226 well-fed supporters who enjoyed a fun-filled evening of succulent dining, bidding on a an incredible assortment and value of auction items, then dancing the night away.
Ogopogo Rotary president-elect, Matt Simpson said, “We can’t thank our sponsors and all of the businesses who contributed to the event, enough, for their tremendous support, this year. With so many charitable events going on in Kelowna, we certainly appreciate how many requests come their way and that so many continue to choose to support the work of Rotary in our community.”
Event food committee chair Angela Bailey had nothing but praise for the way her crew managed to prepare and roll out the food so efficiently. “What many may not realize is what an army of people it takes to host an event like this. The fact that everything went so smoothly is a testament to the focus and hard work of all of our club members, family, friends and volunteers who participated,” she said.
Ogopogo Rotary president Don Shindelka summed up the success of the event, echoing the recognition of all the hard work that went into organizing and presenting an event of this scale. “Many months of preparation go into an event of this scope. The lobster dinner is our major annual fundraiser, so virtually every club member participates on some level, many dedicating countless hours to administration, silent auction and sponsorship, promotion and ticket sales, staging and decoration, food preparation, serving and cleanup; it truly is an entire club effort,” he said.
“And we are delighted with the support shown by those who attended. I heard nothing but great comments so I know they all enjoyed the evening, but raising over $40,000 in a challenging economy really speaks to the commitment of our Kelowna residents to continue to help us build a better community. We rely on that support to assist with the many projects we undertake.
“Locally, last year, we were able to help Parkinson Recreation Centre with a new personal aquatic lift, the cancer lodge with new mattresses for all of their beds, host our own Adventure in Tourism international student program, participate in the Rotary International Student Exchange program and support many other local and international causes.”
