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The Okanagan Sun, founded in 1980, now in its 39th year within the British Columbia Football Conference, has not only provided excellent junior football for its fans, but has also supported the community by partnering with the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise in a number of different ways.
For many years, the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise, with the coordination of club member Brian Fennell, has collected tips from the Sun Football club’s supporters during all home games. These tips have been collected while the club’s Rotarians have provided beverage service for the games. Each year, these funds have been designating to the PolioPlus Fund of The Rotary Foundation, a fund that is allocated to eliminating polio from the world. That volunteer beverage service by Rotary club members and the collection of tips continues to this day.
The Okanagan Sun has also recognized the volunteerism of the members of the Sunrise Rotary Club in other ways. In May of 2018, nearly fifty Kelowna Sunrise Rotarians and friends of Rotary served beverages to a thirsty crowd during the Nitro Circus held at the Apple Bowl in Kelowna as a means to continue to support of the Okanagan Sun Football club. Over $50,000 of sales was generated during the evening. As a way to express their appreciation, the Rotary club received ten percent of the sales made during the evening.
On August 16th of 2019, the club was presented with a cheque in the amount of another $5000 during the club’s regular club meeting. Sun Football president Mike Botterill made the presentation to Sunrise Rotary club president Susan McIntyre. The funds became available by the Sun Football Club organization from uncollected 50/50 sold tickets during the 2018 junior football season home games.
The generosity of the Sun Football Club does not end here. During the 2019 Football season, the members of the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise are involved in selling the Sun Football Club’s 50/50 tickets during the home games. In return, the Rotary club receives 50 percent of the Sun’s take.
Through these generous donations, the Sunrise Rotary Club has been able to continue to financially support endeavours within the community which are focused on responding to community humanitarian needs.
The partnership between the Sun Football Club and the Rotary Club of Kelowna Sunrise demonstrates how community organizations can work together for the benefit of the community.
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