By Jessica Karins | Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — The Rotary Club of Greenfield has broken its fundraising record for the fourth year in a row at its Steak ‘N, Bake ‘N Raffle.
The 2019 event, held last weekend, raised over $108,000 in total, according to Rotary Club member and event organizer Sara Bernzott Spotanski. A total of $75,857.42 was raised by the 10 Hancock County nonprofit organizations that participated in the fundraiser; the remainder came from tickets to the event itself as well as raffles, silent auctions and more.
“It never fails to surprise me that me that we can raise so much money in one night and have such a good time doing it,” Spotanski said.
The five organizations that raised the most money from supporters before and at the event will receive a share of its proceeds as a grant from the Rotary Club. Each will take away $6,500, in addition to the money they personally raised.
The highest fundraisers were, in order, Friends of the Theater, Hancock County Senior Services, Life Choices Care Center, Pennsy Trails of Hancock County and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County.
Amy Studebaker, president of the Friends of the Theater, said she was pleasantly surprised to learn that her organization had come in first place. In addition to the funds from the Rotary Club, Friends of the Theater raised over $16,000 from a combination of large and small donations, Studebaker said.
“I think what that demonstrates is that Hancock County really cares about the arts,” Studebaker said.
The funding boost will make a significant difference for the Friends of the Theater, which was founded in 2017 to preserve and maintain the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts in downtown Greenfield when it lost funding from the county.
Studebaker said the organization will now be able to fund its most immediate goal: refurbishing the theater’s aging marquee. She said the work may be done this fall.
This was the first year participating in the Steak ‘N, Bake ‘N Raffle for the Friends of the Theater, and Studebaker said it was an honor that Rotary Club members chose the organization to participate.
“To come in first place is even more of an honor,” Studebaker said.
Spotanski said she was grateful for the high level of community participation in the event and how generous Hancock County residents had been with their money.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the help of businesses, but also the community in general,” Spotanski said.
