Hub Staff

Over $450,000 has been raised locally in the past 15 years of the Rotary Winterama event, presented by the Rotary Clubs of Port Elgin, Southampton, Tara and Hepworth-Shallow Lake.

In a February 12 media release, preliminary totals for the 16th annual event held Saturday, February 10 is $27,600 with sponsorship donations making up $12,900 of that total and school and group pledges $14,700. A final tally is expected in few days.

In a February 11 email, organizers said that the student with first place in the most pledge money was Finlay Hendry from G.C. Huston Public School with a total of $710. Second place went to Lauren Gibbon from École Port Elgin Saugeen Central with $705 and third place went to Alexis Rennick from G.C. Huston with a total of $635.

All the money raised goes to the kids as volunteers and sponsorship programs pays for any event costs as well as any surplus sponsorship revenue being distributed back to local youth projects.

The shareback of funds raised by schools and groups is 40 percent plus an additional 30 percent for school breakfast and lunch programs. The remainder will be shared equally among the four participating Rotary Clubs with these funds being directed to youth related projects and programs in our local communities.

The following are preliminary estimates of sponsorship and pledge funds received or committed so far this year. Totals will be finalized in the coming days when all sponsorship donations and pledge funds have been received.

For the full story see: 16th Annual Rotary Winterama