At the request of the Rochester Public Schools Superintendent Kent Pekel, the Rochester Rotary Clubs were invited to say a few words about the Holiday Classic, as the School Board wished to express their gratitude with a formal resolution. On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, Lorie Luedke spoke on behalf of the Rochester Rotary Clubs gave a heartfelt, impressive tribute to the Holiday Classic with compelling visuals you can see here!
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Tonight, we welcome and recognize the Rotary Clubs of Rochester for their operation and support of the Rotary Holiday Classic.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Rotary Holiday Classic was created in 1988 to support our local high school basketball programs; and
WHEREAS, the last Rotary Holiday Classic was held in December of 2022; and
WHEREAS, at its peak, the Classic welcomed 32 boys and girls high school basketball teams and their families for three days during the last week of December; and
WHEREAS, the Classic has contributed over $1,000,000 to area youth-related non-profit organizations and more than $80,000 to local schools to help support our basketball programs; and
WHEREAS, the Classic has been operated for the past 34 years by the Rotary Holiday Classic Steering Committee and scores of dedicated Rochester Rotarians who volunteered countless hours to the event.
BE IT RESOLVED that the School Board of Independent School District #535 expresses our gratitude to the Rochester Rotary for their investment in organizing the Rotary Holiday Classic for the past 34 years; our appreciation for the partnership between Rochester Public Schools and the Rotary Clubs of Rochester and the financial support that the Classic generated for Rochester’s schools and youth programs; and our recognition of the unique opportunity that the Rotary Holiday Classic provided for generations of families to gather and support high caliber basketball.