The fundraiser will be staged in the historic U.S. Treasury Ballroom in downtown Portland from 7-11 p.m. The benefit's proceeds will help fund a variety of Pearl Rotary projects in the community and internationally (see below).

A fun evening is assured, both by the setting in a Thirties' gangster-like room and by the games ranging from Blackjack to Let it Ride to craps. Fellow Rotarians from the Columbia County Rotary Club will serve as dealers. The most successful gamblers will have their choice of prizes ranging from Pearl-area restaurant certificates to wines to a six-month membership at 24-Hour Fitness.

Tickets at $60 remain on sale. You can e-mail President Don Smith ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) or call 503-780-9672. Checks can be made to the Pearl Fund, the non-profit arm of PPRC.

Pearl Rotarians are also selling $10 tickets for a chance at a one-week cruise for two on Carnival lines. Those need to be purchased before the Nov. 14 event (Smith can be contacted).

Fun and fellowship with Rotarians and friends are assured on Nov. 14 (see image from last year's Bet on the Pearl). And you'll be supporting important volunteer projects!

Portland Pearl Rotary Club

Bet on the Pearl II

Profits from the annual fundraiser support volunteer projects in the community of Portland…and in worldwide service projects through Rotary International.

IN THE COMMUNITY:

Open Meadow is the signature project for BOTPII. Dollars raised will fund:

One-week camperships in the summer program for at-risk eighth-graders entering h.s.

Ongoing connections with Open Meadow including mentoring, counseling, speaking and special projects and work days.

PPRC on a monthly basis purchases food, prepares a meal and serves it to 75 homeless men who are temporary residents of a shelter in Southeast Portland.

Connections with Lincoln High school students and staff have resulted in a student of the month program, job counseling and speaking, an Interact Club (the equivalent of a high school Rotary Club on campus), youth exchange and an annual $1,000 scholarship to a high school senior.

PPRC is part of the District 5100 Rotary project to provide dictionaries for all third-graders in Portland Public Schools.

IN THE WORLD:

PPRC, in concert with other clubs in the Portland area and through funding from the Rotary Foundation, have successfully funded two international projects in Central America:

1) In Costa Rica, Pearl Rotarians have equipped a kitchen that allows women to prepare food for sale at markets and events. Next step, as funding allows, could be a micro-financing project for them to establish their own independent businesses.

2) In El Salvador, Pearl Rotarians have spearheaded a project to create a nutrition center, serving families and children in a mountain school,” Amun Shea.” The project includes equipment and training supplies.

PPRC members continue to explore other projects from Mexico to Indonesia, all possible uses of money from a successful BOTP II. The most recent commitment of dollars from Pearl Rotarians is to a clean water project in Honduras. In the recent past, we’ve accomplished projects in Uganda, Fiji and Guadalajara, Mexico.

AND…

Those supporting Bet on the Pearl II can contribute to the Pearl Fund, the non-profit arm of Portland Pearl Rotary. In addition to a fun evening at the Treasury Building ballroom, you’ll be supporting causes that make the world a better place here in Portland and in the world beyond.