MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Third Annual Irish Christmas Benefit a Huge Success
By Gerlind Dubey (12/12/2008)

The Ellicottville community gathered en mass at the Gin Mill last Friday evening to participate in the annual Irish Christmas party/fundraiser. Dancing on the heels of the former Foster’s Pub was no chore for Marybeth and Ed Rick, owners of the Gin Mill. The couple and their gracious staff went the extra mile to set the mood for the benefit, plus the Gin Mill donated a hefty gift basket to the auction table. The event exceeded the expectations of host Bob McCarthy and the Rotary Club of Ellicottville. The generosity of the community was overwhelming; the fun fundraiser provided an amazing mountain of gifts for children throughout Cattaraugus County; the gifts will be distributed by Cattaraugus County Community Action Inc. Cattaraugus Community Action Inc. is an anti-poverty organization dedicated to helping people help themselves.

Attending the Irish Christmas benefit Tina Zerbian, CEO of CCCA and Diane Nowak CCCA Councilor; both stood in awe as they gazed at the stack of 350 plus gifts benefitting their organization. (See Letter to the Editor Pg 14)

The newly formed Family Support for Ellicottville group also benefited from this magical event. An Auction composed of donated gift baskets, home made furniture and much more netted an estimated $3,000 to be used to help local citizens in need.

In behalf of the Ellicottville Rotary Club and the Family Support Center a heartfelt and blessed thank-you to all the merchants and individuals who made this auction possible.

HOW AND WHY “THE FAMILY SUPPORT FOR ELLICOTTVILLE” GROUP WAS STARTED

A group of concerned Ellicottville citizens troubled over the large percentage of needy families in the area and the recent closing of the Family Support Center at Ellicottville Central School rallied to form the Family Support for Ellicottville. This organization has dedicated itself to offer information and support to local families who are struggling financially, or with a variety of other issues.
In last weeks edition of Special-E-Fects the Rotary Club of Ellicottville announced sponsorship for the Family Support for Ellicottville. President of The Rotary Club of Ellicottville Jim Gill stated; “The Family Support for Ellicottville program is an enormous undertaking for our club, one that will allow all members the opportunity to provide “Service Above Self” in our own community.” Gill went on to say that; “The closing of the Family Support Center at Ellicottville Central School created a void that needed to be filled immediately to support the less fortunate during this coming holiday season.

The Family Support for Ellicottville group plans on serving the needs not only during the holiday seasons but on an annual basis as many people in the community require help 12 months of the year. Fortunately, there is a group of dedicated and experienced people in place that we will be working with to meet community needs on the planned annual basis.

While our Rotary Club in Ellicottville continues to provide financial support to Rotary International and their needs throughout the globe, one of our goals for this year has been to reach out more into our own community helping people in need, the Family Support for Ellicottville program helps us meet this goal.”