Deeply moved by the gesture, Kelly Gates called the chairmanship of the 74th Annual Hopkinsville Rotary Auction a “great honor,” and that she stands “on the shoulders of giants.”
During Tuesday’s meeting at War Memorial, the Christian County Public Schools workforce program specialist kept things well ahead of schedule — announcing this year’s theme as “Purposeful Pathways,” in what’s a direct nod to the club’s educational and workforce mission behind its monies.
While the club’s auction has always been a life-changing mechanism of local and regional philanthropy — and an inspiration to other organizations across the country — education has been a massive focal point in the last 15 years.
In 2008, Gates noted a unique fund was “just an idea,” and that hard work and dedication eventually brought the Hopkinsville Community College Rotary Scholars Program to fruition. Should they so choose, students in Christian County can take advantage and qualify for a two-year, tuition-free associate degree, technical certificate or pre-college road map.
In 2012, she added those first Rotary Scholars graduated, and since, more than 1,600 students and their families have been better prepared for those early adult steps.
Then, in 2019, the Rotary Foundation was just “another idea.” And in 2020, pandemic and all, it came to life.
Gates said she didn’t want to put a number on this year’s auction goal, and that she simply wanted Hopkinsville and its neighbors to give.
However, the club raised more than $520,000 last year, and more than $530,000 the year prior. This is becoming a consistent benchmark, and to think efforts will run short of $500,000 might be folly.
Christian County has long been one of Kentucky’s strongest gift-giving communities based on population and per capita, and Gates said she remembers as a youngster being given those chances to succeed.
Hopkinsville’s vaunted auction, she said, also has more humble beginnings.
Beginnings that make one wonder how such a prolific thing came to be.
Gates noted things get underway this month with a pair of “Restaurant Days.” Saturday, November 18, all one has to do is go eat between 11 AM and 4 PM at The Local, and 10% of all proceeds will go to benefit the auction. Then, on November 28, when everyone will be tired of turkey, one can use the promo code “ROTARYHOPVILLE,” and 20% of each purchase will be donated to these efforts.
Save the date: April 22-27, 2024.
FULL PRESENTATION:
