Posted by Kathy Buck on May 27, 2017
The 45th annual Rotary Youth Benefit Dinner and Auction was held on May 7, 2017 in the Emmett City Park and raised $66,000 for Gem county Youth! The committee, under the leadership of Rotarian John Buck, worked diligently for 10 months to bring this sold-out venture to Gem County.  Corporate sponsors bought tables for 6 at $500 and individual tickets sold for $50.  Dinner was catered and featured steak or chicken with all the fixings. 
 
It was an honor for us to have District Governor Jim Hogge and his wife Carla, Assistant Governor Mike Sieler and his wife Cory and Assistant Governor Jim Waters attend.  Governor Hogge spoke to the audience about the many facets of Rotary and what we do in our communities and in the world.  Many local and state dignitaries also attended including Lt. Governor Brad Little and his wife Theresa.
 
 
Items for both the silent and live auctions were donated by many businesses and individual Rotarians.  We had two Safari’s donated – one a hunting safari, the other a photography safari; as well as a Treagar Grill, a 6 ft rooster and hen, and tickets to the Mountain Home Country Music Festival this summer.  Float trips, ocean fishing trips, whitewater rafting, beef …you get the picture. You could get almost anything at this auction even some “killer brownies” and homemade pies/cakes/cookies at the dessert auction.
 
The $66,000 profit will be spent solely on the youth of Gem County.  Twenty-two groups applied for funds totally nearly $30,000.  The other $30,000 will be set aside to help with future youth needs – to help kids who qualify for state/national competitions or honors and to strengthen our endowment fund.  The endowment fund was started last year by the Emmett Rotary Foundation to eventually make Emmett Rotary “the place” for kids to come for financial help instead of knocking on the doors of community businesses.  Those businesses can say, “I support Rotary.  You need to go talk to them.”  Thus, we provide another service to our community.
 
We also raised nearly $1000.00 for the Emmett High School band uniforms that night.  We have started a fund for them and are helping them write grants and providing areas where they can serve and earn money to replace the old uniforms.  Rotarian Bryan Stone is spearheading this project.
 
The Rotary Club of Emmett is excited to announce next year’s 46th Annual Rotary Youth Benefit and Auction is scheduled for May 5, 2018.  Come, join the fun!