Front Royal Rotary Club Announces $170,419 in Donations to Local and National Organizations During the Past Year

Ken Evans, who stepped down a few weeks ago following his year as president of the Front Royal Rotary Club, announced last Friday (Aug. 23) that the club made more than 50 cash donations totaling $170,419 to local and national organizations during the Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

Evans, recently succeeded by Holly Rhodenhizer, handed out a detailed list while announcing a major fundraiser he is organizing again this year—the 13th annual Half Lit Classic golf tournament (Sept. 20)—and a club outing to Blacksburg, VA., the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day (Nov.30), where Virginia Tech hosts UVA at the annual Commonwealth Trophy football game. He is seeking signups for both!

The entry deadline for the nine-hole golf tournament is Sept. 13; sign up for the coach trip to Blacksburg is now!

This will be the 13th anniversary of the highly successful Half Lit golf tourney (you’ll get the definition of “half lit” when you sign up, but it appears to feature a second nine holes after dark (where?) and a sample of a wide assortment of craft beers). “Half Lit” … hmm!

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event (call Ken Evans at 540-683-9680). Wells Fargo, represented by George Karnes and Jon Berry, is a major sponsor this year.

Details of where last year’s $170,000+ in donations went include funding for Rotary’s International Polio Plus Foundations ($25,413); the local “Doc” Smith Christmas Basket delivery each year ($22,000); local academic scholarships ($20,000); Juvenile Diabetes Walk ($14,000); Habitat for Humanity ($8,000); and numerous lesser amounts to organizations such as the Salvation Army, Coats for Kids, Camp Fantastic, Blue Ridge Arts Council, Little League Baseball, Boy Scouts, Samuels Public Library, and many more.