Cazenovia Lion’s Club fundraising dinner far surpasses its goal
With the final numbers tabulations, the Cazenovia Lions Club has announced that it raised more than $13,000 from its Rachel’s Challenge fundraising dinner held March 25, all of which will be donated to the Cazenovia Middle School /High School Rachel’s Challenge program.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout; we were all impressed with the number of people and the amount of support we had there, not to mention the overwhelming generosity of contributions and donations from the community and from our local businesses and organizations,” said Lions Club member and event co-chair Tim Crouch. “There no way to express the gratitude that I feel just to make this such a success.”
Cazenovia district Superintendent Matt Reilly agree. “We were overwhelmed by the support and the generosity of everyone there and of the many donations from people who could not attend,” Reilly said. “It was an event that really showed the community’s commitment to its children. We couldn’t be more appreciative of the work the Lions Club did on behalf of the school district.”
The Cazenovia school district administration brought the Rachel’s Challenge program to Cazenovia in February for student and community presentations, and also started a Friends of Rachel Club in the high school.
Rachel’s Challenge, based on the life and writings of Rachel Joy Scott, the first person killed in the Columbine High School shooting on April 20, 1999, seeks to spread a pro-kindness, anti-violence message that encourages people to start “chain reactions of kindness and compassion” in their lives. The group’s mission is to make schools safer, more connected places where bullying and violence are replaced with kindness and respect; and where learning and teaching are awakened to their fullest.
The Lions Club dinner, held at The Hampton Inn and Suites in Cazenovia, was the club’s Lions Club Foundation Century Project designated and had a fundraising goal of $7,000. In the end, the club will donate the full $13,225 raised to the district — of that, more than $2,300 was raised from cash donations and raffle ticket sales, and Cazenovia College also gave $1,000, Crouch said.
The March 25 event had 160 attendees, and the evening featured a silent auction, raffles of 24 gift baskets and cash donations, all from community members, area artists, local businesses and Lions. The event also featured speeches by school district students and administrators about the impact and sustainability of the Rachel’s Challenge program in Cazenovia. Guests were also treated to a performance by the Cazenovia High School Chamber Choir.
“I was blown away by the amount of support we received from the community. This is a testament to what can be accomplished when schools and community organizations like the Cazenovia Lions Club partner for the benefit of students,” said CHS Principal Eric Knuth, who was instrumental in bringing Rachel’s Challenge to Cazenovia. “Our work has only just begun, and we look forward to the lasting benefits of making Rachel’s Challenge a part of our school community.”
