Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Rotary Club of the Pelhams. The Pelham Examiner publishes press releases in the form received as a service to the community.

Rotary Club of the Pelhams announced it is postponing the wine and food Tastings XVI fundraiser—the major event of its 75th Anniversary Year— to Oct. 16, 2022 due to coronavirus concerns. The event had been scheduled for March 20.

The Tastings XVI fundraiser will support Gift of Life heart surgeries for children in foreign countries and local youth programs.It will also highlight the local Rotary Cub’s 75th anniversary of its founding. It was chartered on January 17, 1947. Honorees at Tastings XVI will be past presidents of the Pelham Rotary Club, past winners of the annual Pelham Rotary Scholarship and past Pelham host families of children who received heart surgery as part of the international Gift of Life program.

Other events during the Rotary Club’s 75th Anniversary year will include a free movie on the environment for students and their families at The Picture House on Thursday, April 21, the eve of Earth Day. On May 11, Rotary Day at The Pelham Art Center will include a reception for the community from 5-7pm, and during the summer a new bench will be dedicated in Town Park at The Pelham Gazebo donated by the Rotary Club.

The Tastings XVI fundraiser, on Sunday, October 16, will feature signature food dishes from restaurants, bakeries and caterers plus a wine tasting by Blue Dog Wines and Spirits. Admission will be $100 per person. It will be held at Pelham Country Club from 4-7pm.

“This year we were able to contribute to provide life saving heart surgeries to 20 Kenyan children, using a carryover of funds raised from our Tastings XV and the mail solicitation the Club did when we cancelled Tastings in 2020,” said Donna Shirreffs, co-chair of the Rotary Tastings Committee.  “However, since we couldn’t have our Tastings fundraiser in 2021, we were sad we couldn’t contribute $8,000 to help children in Romania this year. ”

Over the past 16 years, The Pelham Rotary has donated more than $225,000 for Gift of Life heart surgeries,” said Bob Rendon, co-chair of the Tastings Committee. “We have also funded local programs with donations to Pelham Little League, Pelham Children’s Center, CPR classes at Pelham Middle School/High School, Project CHILDD, Pelham Art Center scholarships and winter coats for children through the Montefiore New Rochelle Hospital.”

Rotary Club of the Pelhams also raises funds for an annual $12,000 scholarship presented to a graduating senior at Pelham Memorial High School.The club also works closely with the Interact Club at PMHS.

Members of the local Rotary cub are business owners, retirees, community leaders and volunteers. They meet on Wednesdays for lunch at Rockwells or via Zoom for networking, conversation and usually a speaker on a variety of topics. Anyone interested in joining Rotary should contact Marty Ketels ([email protected]). For more information on Rotary Club of the Pelham and to donate at any time to Rotary projects please visit pelhamrotary.com