The railroad passenger reception area at Portland’s Union Station looked, sounded and felt like a Las Vegas casino when Pearl Rotary staged its fourth annual Bet on the Pearl fundraiser.
The Oct. 22 event included gambling (blackjack, roulette, craps), food and drinks, live music by the Fenix Project, and a silent auction that garnered over $20,000 in value of the contributions.
“This was the biggest and best year for our silent auction thanks largely to the broad participation and generous donations of Pearl District and Northwest Portland businesses and organizations,” said past Pearl Rotary President Don Barney, chair of that event.. “We’re very fortunate to have so many local partners join us and help replenish our charitable fund for another year of Pearl Rotary service to the community.”
An estimated $10,000 from the event will be directed to the club’s non-profit, the Pearl Fund. Monies raised from the annual fundraiser are used to fund a wide array of club projects–including computers for a girls school in Costa Rica, support of Open Meadow non-traditional school, student of the month and other efforts with Lincoln High School, and new partnerships in the Pearl area with the Zimmerman Community Center and the Bud Clark Commons.
President Lou Radja summarized the evening:
“What a great turn out for Bet on the Pearl!–a night of fun while making a difference. Thanks to the support of civic, business and individual leaders in our community, our Pearl Rotary Club is able to make a real difference through our local and international service projects. In Africa we say: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others.’ Well, together, we went far that night!”
Other Rotarians who joined Barney and Radja in leadership roles were Greg Mottau, fundraising chair; Duane Cook, tickets; Tracy Vicario and Roger Devine, silent auction. Another partner in the event was the Columbia County Rotary Club; members came to the train station to deal the games. In a reciprocal gesture, Pearl Rotarians will do the same in march for its fundraiser in St. Helens.
Pearl Rotary also announced a follow-up online auction. You can bid on items, while advancing Pearl Rotary’s causes, at the Portland Pearl Rotary Online Auction.
