A Fundraiser and Fun Raiser

 

Nine years ago, the Hillsborough Rotary Club offered to take over an annual carnival sponsored by the town’s volunteer fire department as their fundraiser.  It was a bold decision for the Club leadership, in that they had never before operated such a complex, labor-intensive, weeklong fundraising event.  The Club members and other community volunteers would need to set up the Fair grounds, arrange for food vendors, man ticket booths and game trailers, park cars, sell raffle tickets, collect money, and clean the grounds each evening – and that represented only a few of the tasks that needed their time and attention. The challenges were many. Nevertheless, on August 21, 2016, the Club completed its ninth consecutive Hillsborough Rotary Fair, which set a new fundraising record for the Hillsborough Rotary Foundation. 

 

“We have made a number of important changes to the Fair over the years,” commented Abed Medawar, president of the Hillsborough Rotary. “We’re always trying to improve on what we did the year before.  Over the years, we’ve added rides for young children, a giant 50/50 raffle and a motorcycle raffle, and a 20-minute long fireworks spectacular on the Friday of Fair week.”

 

Perhaps the most meaningful addition to the Fair since its inception, however, has been the introduction of a special, invitation-only afternoon dedicated to children with special needs and their families.  A natural companion to the Club’s ongoing support of Autism and Down Syndrome research and care, the dedicated afternoon, including rides, games and food, is free of charge to the children and their families.  Over the years, hundreds of families have participated in what the Club has named “Family Fun Day.”

 

The sound level and lights associated with the rides and games are intentionally subdued to accommodate the needs of the special visitors on this day.  However, the level of the children’s enthusiasm is anything but subdued.  And the joy they express when winning a prize (guaranteed on this day) or riding the Ferris wheel is evidence enough that this event is as special to them as it is to the Club members.  Each year, the parents of the special needs children routinely write to the Club expressing their great joy and gratitude for what is often a rare fun event in which their entire family can participate and feel welcome and comfortable.  

 

Over 15,000 people from Hillsborough and adjoining towns visited the Fair this August, and enjoyed the 21 amusement rides, food vendors, games and spectacular fireworks display.  Not only is the Fair itself a highly anticipated annual event for the community, but it also raises funds for the Hillsborough Rotary Foundation that enables the Club to support many important community needs throughout the year.

Despite all the work and many volunteer hours required of members each August, if you ask any one of them if they want to continue sponsoring the annual Rotary Fair, you’ll get one consistent answer -  “absolutely.”