Rotary fundraiser set for March 20

With public support of its March 20 fundraiser, El Campo Rotarians will be able to continue supporting many worthwhile programs in the city and in West Wharton County.

The club's big project remains the El Campo Aquatic Center. It is estimated that a large portion of this year's fundraiser and a portion of next year's will be needed to pay off the note.

Rotary Club members are selling the $100 raffle tickets that are one of the mainstays of the annual fundraiser. This year the winners will get gift cards valued at $20,000 for first place, $2,000 for second and $1,000 for third.

Seafood dinner tickets remain at $8.50, and diners can eat in or take out. Beer, soft drinks or iced tea accompany plates for those who stay to eat in with the hope those folks will also stay to participate in the live and silent auctions and the $5 bait bucket raffles.

The meal will again feature catfish from local ponds fried to perfection, and shrimp étoufée on top of a bed of Wharton County rice. Another favorite is the cold slaw mixed and marinated by Rotarians themselves.

"El Campo Rotarians have a motto. We support projects that won't get done without us," said general chairman Russell Rasmussen.

Examples include the Civic Center, the Rotary Park softball complex and Rotary helped put fundraising for the renovation of the Wharton County Branch Library over the top.

Rotary also sponsors Cub Scout Pack 196, college scholarships for ECHS graduating seniors, Hospice Support, Interact Club at ECHS, the Boys & Girls Club of El Campo, a foreign youth exchange program (a student is currently here from Venezuela), the Wharton County Youth Fair, Reading Is Fundamental and other projects brought to the club's attention during the year.

"Please buy a raffle ticket or two, some meal tickets and come on out Thursday, March 20 for a good meal, fellowship and the opportunity to win some nice prizes. Take a prize home or not, everyone's a winner when they help support their community," Rasmussen said.