Rotary Club of Ellicottville
Small Club with a Big Heart
By Jim Gill (09/19/2008)

The Rotary Club of Ellicottville founded in 1999 is part of District 7090 with 73 clubs from Southern Ontario and North Western New York, collectively the district has a total of 2,500 members. As part of Rotary International, the individual clubs in District 7090 in conjunction with other clubs throughout the world contribute to help meet one of Rotary International’s main goals, to eradicate polio globally. This goal is nearing completion and recently received a large boost from the Gate’s Foundation whom offered $100 million in matching funds. This past week the Canadian Government contributed $30 million to help Rotary leaving a balance of $70 million to be raised by clubs around the globe.

While the Ellicottville club participates in helping fund the international goal, local members also realize there are many needs in our own community that need to be filled, thanks to the local members, volunteers and the business community the Rotary Club of Ellicottville are able to support a number of programs locally.

One of the main commitments involved $50,000.00 in Capital Funding for the Ellicottville Memorial Library payable over a 4 year period; to date the club has donated $40,000.00. Through additional fundraisers in 2008 the balance will be paid off in early 2009.

Some of the other Rotary projects include:
Annual Scholarships provided to graduating students at Ellicottville Central School and BOCES.
Special funding provided for Children’s programs

Young Film Makers Project – Annual contest to promote Film Art within the county supported by Cattaraugus County Arts Council

Sponsor the Children first Festival – a 2-day event at no cost to children and their families to attend

Simon Griffis Art Park – funding provided for art project involving ECS students to design and create sculptured metal leaves for the tree in the library entrance.

Sponsor a jewelry class for young adults at the library

Christmas Poinsettia sale – held annually

Provide funding for individual students for extra curricular travel abroad and in the U.S., i.e. Dwight D. Eisenhower Program and Presidential Inaugural Program.

Sponsored Creative Arts and Theatre Program for children in 1st through 7th grade, 30 children taught by local ECS student whom performed at Children First Festival.
Support annual Halloween party at the American Legion providing candy and gifts.

Sponsor Reading Circle for ECS.

Project Christmas - Provide gifts and money at ECS, the program provides for many needy children to make their Christmas special. Funding and gifts come from Bob McCarthy’s annual Irish Christmas.

Chuck Wagon Breakfast – Served over 100 members of the 2008 Bicentennial Wagon Train.

Antique Farm Fair & Auction – Proceeds from this event (thanks to B. McCarthy) are donated to The Ellicottville Historical Society ($1,000.) and the Alley Katz ($1,000).

BOCES In & Out Program – Assist needy students by providing starting set of tools during first semester and expanded set for workplace upon graduation.

Red Cross – Recently reached agreement to sponsor blood drives in Ellicottville.

To support funding for the above mentioned a number of events are held including the largest fundraiser The Michael Kern’s Starz for Youth Ball, money raised goes directly to support the Ellicottville Memorial Library Rotary for Youth Foundation. The inaugural event in 2007 was a huge success, this year’s event will be held on Friday October 3rd from 6:00-11:PM. Only 200 tickets will be available, they can be purchased at Balloons, The Barn, A Touch of Ellicottville and members of Rotary. The Ball will be held at Yodler Lodge Holiday Valley. For more information please contact Kegs Keighley @ 716 699-8758