$700K goal set by Rotary Club of Tortola for The Grand Affair
The Rotary Club of Tortola has set out to raise at least $700,000 via the return of one of their largest fundraiser events, The Grand Affair, which it has not been able to execute since 2017 due to the major disaster of that year and the subsequent COVID-19 pandemic.
$700k target
This announcement was made on January 10, 2023, at a press conference with a panel of club members that included the Grand Affair Committee Chairperson Past Assistant District Governor Mrs Lorna G. Smith, Past District Governor Mrs Delma Maduro, President Mrs Valerie George- Thomas, Vice President Abby O’Neal and Past President Mr Henry O. Creque.
Announcing the target, Mrs Smith said, “And yes, we have raised as much as $350,000. I think that is the highest we have gotten to and we have become very ambitious this year and we want to double that to $700,000. We know that with your help, the community’s help, we can reach that.”
‘We hope to establish’ YEP centre in RT- Smith
The Club is concentrating on two beneficiaries this year, including the Youth Empowerment Programme (YEP), “and we hope to establish another centre in Road Town.”
Mrs Smith explained that this may not be the construction of a building but can also mean the renting of an appropriate space in an existing building. “We definitely want to have another centre in Road Town and we have been given the requisite permission to proceed.”
After a 7-year-hiatus, the Rotary Club of
Tortola's signature fundraising event, The Grand Affair, which was last
held in 2016, will be returning in March 2023.
BVIHSA to benefit
The other area of primary focus with the funds raised will be toward improving cancer treatment and prevention in the territory.
“We have always worked with the [BVI] Health Services Authority. The hospital has been the recipient of hundreds of thousands [of dollars] in the past from the Rotary Club of Tortola and we have also given substantially to the Iris O’Neal Clinic.
“So the Health Services is one of our partners, so we are delighted to contribute in this fashion.”
Tickets for the event cost $200 each.
The glamorous dinner and auction known as The Grand Affair, will be held on March 25, 2023, at Government House under the patronage of Governor John J. Rankin, CMG.
The theme is Havana Nights.
