Rotary Club of West Springfield
Contact: Noreen Tassinari
413-205-5037
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA—August 3, 2011
Rotary Club of West Springfield Donates Taste of the Valley Proceeds
to Two Agencies for Tornado Relief
The Rotary Club of West Springfield has donated all of its proceeds from West Side’s Taste of the Valley, as well as additional contributions it received, to two agencies for tornado relief and recovery.
“Our Taste took place just days after the tornado and our Board voted unanimously to donate the monies we realized, $30,000, to assist those whose lives were changed drastically on June 1,” said President Simon Brighenti, Jr. “The mission of Rotary is to help others.”
A donation of $15,000 each has been allocated to The Salvation Army and the Center for Human Development, both located in Springfield.
That amount includes net profits from the four-day Taste, significant donations from Rotary Clubs in our local district and throughout the northeast, as well as contributions from individuals, Taste performers and participating restaurants and vendors.
A committee of Rotarians explored and considered a number of organizations, based on the established criteria of serving people along the entire swath of damage from the tornado and assisting in ongoing recovery efforts.
“We feel that both agencies have a well established plan today and for the future, a protocol for vetting those in need and are able to track the progress of the people they serve. Another requirement was that the agencies provide a means to track the spending with the funds we are donating. Both have an effective procedure in place for reporting,” said Brighenti.
“Most importantly, we wanted our donation to encompass every Western Mass. community that was impacted by the tornado, including our home town of West Springfield,” he added.
West Side’s Taste of the Valley, sponsored by Chicopee Savings Bank, took place June 9-12 on the Town Common and is the Club’s largest fundraiser. It featured foods from 16 restaurants, music on two stages, rides, games, a petting zoo, the Saturday Cruise and a 5K road race.
Rotary International is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
The Rotary Club of West Springfield, meets each Tuesday at 12:15 at the Monte Carlo Restaurant.
Cutline:
The Rotary Club of West Springfield distributed $30,000—proceeds from Westside’s Taste of the Valley and a number of donations from Rotary clubs, businesses and individuals— to The Center for Human Development and the Salvation Army for tornado relief and recovery. Pictured left to right are: Stella Kalamarakis, Rotary Club of West Springfield past president; John Kendzierski and George Condon, co-chairs, West Side’s Taste of the Valley; Jane Banks, assistant program director, Center for Human Development; Major Tom Perks, commanding officer, Greater Springfield Salvation Army and Rotary President Simon Brighenti. Each organization received $15,000.