Contact: Noreen Tassinari
413-205-5037
ntassinari@TheBigE.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, West Springfield MA — June 6, 2011
ROTARY CLUB OF WEST SPRINGFIELD TO DONATE 100% OF TASTE OF THE VALLEY PROCEEDS TO TORNADO RELIEF
The Rotary Club of West Springfield will donate all of its proceeds from West Side’s Taste of the Valley, scheduled for June 9-12 on the Town Common, to benefit area tornado victims. The decision was made at a special board meeting Monday morning, three days before the kick-off of the event.
“The mission of Rotary is to help others and the West Springfield Club has assisted people in our community and around the world since 1953. In the wake of this unprecedented disaster that has affected so many individuals, families and businesses, we wanted to do our share,” said President Stella Kalamarakis.
She added “We are grateful that our Town Common, site of the Taste for 12 years, was not damaged. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our neighbors in Town and those throughout Western Mass., who were not as fortunate.”
The Taste is the Club’s largest fundraiser and features foods from 16 restaurants, music on two stages, rides, games a petting zoo, the Saturday Cruise and a 5K road race on Sunday.
For a complete listing of entertainment, restaurants and activities visit www.westsidetaste.com.
The Taste of the Valley is the principal fundraiser for the Rotary Club of West Springfield. The Taste would not be possible without the gracious assistance provided by West Springfield Town department personnel namely Health, DPW, Fire, Police, Park & Recreation, Council on Aging and the Mayor’s Office. Also, many volunteers from numerous service groups, particularly the West Springfield Lions Club, are instrumental in making the event an ongoing success.
The Rotary Club of West Springfield, on a local level, provides scholarships, mentoring and leadership opportunities for young people and grants to civic organizations and educational institutions and supports the global relief efforts of Rotary International. Under the leadership of current President Stella Kalaramakis, the Club meets each Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at the Monte Carlo Restaurant.
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. There are 1.2 million members worldwide with 34,000 clubs in 168 countries.
The Taste’s title sponsor, Chicopee Savings Bank, was founded in 1854 and has grown substantially over the years as a full-service bank with branches throughout Chicopee as well as in West Springfield, Ludlow, South Hadley and Ware. Its mission remains as it was more than 150 years ago—to remain a well capitalized bank dedicated to serving its customers and community. The Bank’s staff is fluent in many languages to better service its customer base. In addition to offering a full range of consumer and commercial banking services, Chicopee Savings Bank also provides retirement planning, college savings plans, tax-free investments and life insurance products. The West Springfield branch of Chicopee Savings is located at 39 Morgan Road.
For more information and a complete list of entertainment and restaurant offerings, please check out the website at www.westsidetaste.com.