Lake Zurich Rotary Halloween Bash Raises Thousands for Charity
Posted by Nancy Shepherdson
on Nov 16, 2011
On Saturday night, about 110 costumed revelers descended to the dungeon at Hackney’s in Lake Zurich to celebrate Halloween at the Lake Zurich Rotary Club’s Rockin’ Halloween Bash. By the end of the evening, more than $12,000 had been raised for the Lake Zurich food panty and other charities the Rotary Club supports. And local businesswoman Lynn O’Brien, dressed as coffee pitchman Juan Valdez, had walked away with the honors for best costume.
The event, featuring the band Alex and the All Stars and in its fifth year, broke previous fundraising records. A $4000 donation is planned for the food pantry in Lake Zurich which serves needy families in Ela Township and six surrounding townships. Rotarian Hanan Hafez, branch manager with Inland Bank in Lake Zurich, was the event chairman.
The Rotary Club of Lake Zurich donates money and labor to both local and international projects. In addition to the food pantry, the club has supported the Fire Department’s Beacon Light safety program, sent high school kids to leadership camp, funded scholarships for college and vocational training, constructed a pocket park at the corner of Old Rand and Main St., helped the family of a sick child remodel their home for accessibility, helped needy people with home maintenance and many other projects.
The Halloween Bash also was supported by local sponsors Algrim Funeral Home, Cornerstone Bank, Inland Bank, Fidelity Motors, the Foglia YMCA and Lake County Board member Craig Taylor. Silent auction prizes were donated by Hawthorn Woods Golf Club, Kemper Lakes Golf Club, Jeffrey R. Copeland, DDS, Atrium Nursury, and jeweler Tim Grant.
Just before the Halloween Bash, Rotary members were also seen gathering donations on street corners for End Polio Now, an international Rotary project. Polio is found in only four countries in the world today and Rotary is committed to stamping it out. Almost $600 was raised from generous commuters in four hours. Every dollar donated buys two vaccinations for children in the four countries still affected.
Lake Zurich Rotary meets weekly for fun and networking on Fridays at 12:15 p.m. at the Chauncery Banquet Hall, 365 Surryse Rd., Lake Zurich. First-time guests may lunch with the group free of charge.