Rotary Club Festival shows unity in community

The Wasco Rotary Club has long been a pillar of the community. For years, they have dedicated their efforts to fostering goodwill, promoting peace and serving humanity. The annual Rotary Club Festival is one of the club's most anticipated fundraisers, and last Thursday's event was no different, as the club hosted a night of delicious food, camaraderie and philanthropy.

Residents from all walks of life, city leadership, local business owners and Rotary Club members came together to support this essential fundraising effort.

Friends and neighbors dined, laughed and enjoyed each other's company. The event's success was a testament to the strong bonds that unite the people of Wasco and their shared commitment to making their community a better place.

There was a 50/50 raffle; four guests took home $1250 each. They were Christine Beelner, Sunni Dobbs, Cindy Banducci and Sharon and Dale Nicol.

A silent auction was also an opportunity for those who attended to take home gift baskets with a wide range of items that club members and sponsors donated.

Martin Lonza has been a Rotary Club member for over two decades. He said the event complimented the club's mission. "It was an opportunity to support the local community and national Rotary endeavors. This event has been our primary fundraiser for over 20 years."

Lori Albrecht was a guest and a former Rotarian. "It's always a fun event to see old friends, and the money raised goes to good causes."

Some of the projects the club contributes to are Toys for Tigers, the Wasco Woman's Club, Traveling Tigers, the Free Will Baptist Church, the Wasco Community Scholarship, the Wasco Rose Festival, the Wasco Rose Queen Pageant, Salvation Army of Kern County and the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald House.

Another guest, Marlene Swan, said, "It's a great organization. Other than the Woman's Club, it could be one of the longest clubs in Wasco."

She added that it was a chance to network. "It's a good time, and you get to see different people and catch up with people you don't see unless you come to this."

Tom Proffitt was a teacher at Wasco High School for almost 30 years. He said, "Many of my ex-students are club members, and it's nice to see how well they've been doing. It's always a good evening."

The event was a collaborative effort for the club, and one member played an especially significant role. "I want to thank Tony Stout for organizing this event from A to Z. Thank you for your time for making this memorable and special over the years," Club President Oscar Luna said.