A number of local, national and international organisations and charities have benefited from the activities of the Rotary Club of Willenhall during the last 12 months or so. Organised events, fundraising within the local Willenhall community and contributions from individual Rotary Club members have enabled the Club to do this.
As recently as Friday, February 15 the Club pooled resources with our friends from the Rotary Club of Wednesfield to stage a very successful 'Race Night' which raised nearly £2,000. This is the fourth year in succession that the two Rotary Clubs have staged this event and over 180 people attended the event at the Corpus Christi centre in Ashmore Park to enjoy an evening of horse racing and fellowship.
Over £1700 was raised during the period leading up to Christmas last year from taking the 'Santa Sleigh' around Willenhall and at Morrison's Superstore, the 'Christmas Grotto' in the Market Place and the proceeds of the annual 'Christmas by Candlelight Carol Concert' in the Parish Church of St. Giles. Other fundraising and weekly contributions by Club members have added to the amount of money the Club is able to concentrate to worthy causes.
The Club makes an annual donation of £1000 to the West Midlands Air Ambulance Service which it has for many years now and has contributed a further £500 to the Shepwell Green School while the Willenhall Society of Artists £250 to assist its members to fund transport to attend art exhibitions. With proceeds from the Carol Concert £150 was donated to the Parish Church of St. Giles and a further £100 to the Ashmore Park Choir to assist with expenses etc. As a result of Club members contributions between £80 and £90 is given to the Food Bank in Essington each month.
In October last year Club members sold items of crockery on a stall in Walsall market which raised over £170 for "Polio Plus", Rotary's own charity aimed at trying to eliminate polio from the world. A donation of over £2000 has been awarded to "Guide Dogs for the Blind" during the past twelve months and on the wider international scene £400 was used to purchase a Disaster Box which contains life-saving and other essential equipment to be used in countries hit by earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.
Current President of the Rotary Club, Peter Williams said, "We are eternally grateful for the support we receive from the people of Willenhall without which we could not possibly carry out our work to try to help people who need it. I think people support Rotary in the knowledge that every penny we collect goes to good causes nearly all of which are local."
