Firoz Peera presents a $3.95 Million Dollar Check to RI President Ron Burton and RI Vice President Anne L. Matthews

 

Zone 33 Million Dollar Dinner raises $3.955 Million in 10 weeks

 

The Rotary Club of Top of the Lake-Mooresville and Zone 33 hosted Rotary’s first zone-wide Million Dollar Dinner Saturday, October 19, 2013. 

 

The Million Dollar Dinner was the idea of RI Vice President Anne L. Matthews, who wanted to raise millions before Foundation month in November. The fundraising drive, which culminated in the celebratory dinner, was the first ever zone-wide initiative in Rotary. A committee with representatives from every district in Zone 33 provided the collaborative leadership needed to make it a success and set the stage for a strong year for Zone 33's support of the Rotary Foundation. The dinner, organized by Charlotte host committee chair John Tabor, was also unique in having both the President and Vice-President of Rotary International in attendance to thank donors in person.

 

The 10-week fundraising drive raised almost four million dollars in major gifts and bequests of $10,000 or more. The one hundred and sixty-eight contributions received during the drive included $1,503,500 in cash and $2,452,000 worth of bequests for a grand total of $3,955,500. The campaign also resulted in two new Arch Klumph Society members, increasing the number of AKS memberships in Zone 33 from 10 to 12.

 

Results of the fundraising drive were announced at the dinner by Zone 33 Endowment/Major Gift Advisor Firoz Peera who coordinated the fundraising initiative.  RI Vice President Anne L. Matthews presented a "large" check for the amount raised to RI President Ron Burton, who then thanked all donors for their generous support of Rotary's Foundation.