Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education,
Over 600 people attended the 43rd annual Fitchburg East Rotary Club Big Game Brunch on the morning of Super Bowl Sunday to support their cause. Students from Fitchburg High School and Montachusett Regional Technical Vocational High School helped cook and serve the food alongside many Rotarians and other volunteers.
MAVA extends its appreciation to the student volunteers from both schools and to the Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School District for hosting this annual event.
David
Big Game Brunch wins big
Super Bowl Sunday fundraiser breakfast brings in over $25K, so far
Attendees of the 43rd annual Fitchburg East Rotary Club Big Game Brunch enjoyed a gourmet spread. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
By dray | Sentinel & Enterprise
FITCHBURG — The 43rd annual East Rotary Club Big Game Brunch fundraiser was a success in a big way, netting over $25,000 for local charitable causes – so far. Rotarians are still gathering funds promised by people and tallying ticket sales from Rotary members so that total may grow.
However, Rotarians are reporting final attendance figures and said that over 600 people attended the brunch on the morning of Super Bowl Sunday to support their cause. Students from Fitchburg High School and Montachusett Regional Technical Vocational High School helped cook and serve the food alongside many Rotarians and other volunteers. “I was thrilled with all the Fitchburg East Rotarians who worked so hard to make this what I think was the most successful brunch we have had in many years,” said club President Ed Howard following the Feb. 11 event held at Monty Tech. “We had many of our new members, and even some of our old members, participate and worked so hard for the duration.”
Monty Tech culinary arts students cooked up delicious made to order omelets at the 43rd annual Fitchburg East Rotary Club Big Game Brunch fundraiser on Feb. 11. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)
Besides bidding on silent auction items and purchasing raffle tickets for a 50/50 and themed baskets everyone enjoyed a wide variety of foods such as made to order omelets cooked by Monty Tech culinary arts students, delicious breakfast items and lunch entrees served buffet style, and even ice cream sundaes.
“Thanks to everybody for all their hard work. I am proud to be a member of such a terrific group of Rotarians,” Howard said.
The money raised will go towards scholarships for high school students, donations to nonprofit organizations, various humanitarian projects, and more.
“It was great to see all the area community people come out to our event,” said Fitchburg East Rotary Club Vice President Bob Campbell. “It’s a great feeling to know that there are many people who do care about other people in need. We make a lot of donations to area nonprofits, large or small. Any organizations that need assistance all they have to do is to request to do a presentation to our club and what they need for funds, and we will do a donation.”
A snapshot from a past Fitchburg East Rotary Big Game Brunch, which raises funds that remain local in the form of scholarships for high school students, donations to nonprofit organizations, various humanitarian projects, and more. (COURTESY BOB CAMPBELL)
Campbell said that in the past, they have had lower and higher numbers of attendees at the fundraiser — and joked that historically it has been the latter whenever the New England Patriots were Super Bowl contenders. He went on to say that as an International Rotary Club, they “are always involved in helping our community and we also provide aid to international countries on projects.”
“We are currently helping fund two well digging projects in Uganda, Africa,” he said. “So, you can see, as we do our charitable work, we need funds. The Big Game Brunch is our largest fundraising event, and our Rotary Flower Box is another.”
Themed gift baskets, a 50/50 raffle, and silent auction items are featured at the annual Fitchburg East Rotary Big Game Brunch fundraiser. (COURTESY FITCHBURG EAST ROTARY)
Campbell said they are in the planning stages of launching the inaugural annual Fitchburg East Golf Tournament slated for June as another fundraiser.
“This will give us additional funds for our community and enable us to provide more assistance to international projects.”
A team of hardworking Rotarians and student volunteers made a touchdown with the successful 43rd annual Fitchburg East Rotary Club Big Game Brunch fundraiser. The well attended Feb. 11 event held at Monty Tech netted upwards of $25,000 in funds that will be put to good use in the local community and beyond.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira