Warren County Rotary raises funds for House of Hope

WARREN COUNTY – In the midst of the area’s cold weather snap, the Rotary Club of Warren County attracted a sellout crowd for its annual fundraising dinner at the Shenandoah Valley Gold Club April 22. It featured an “Evening in Paradise” motif at which (some) guests provided a warm reminder of summer with their Caribbean outfits.

Aiming to beat last year’s net take of $15,000, the county club, formerly known as the Rotary Club of Linden, chose to go in house with Rotarian Michael Williams whose humor as an amateur auctioneer for sure increased the take and had diners almost literally rolling in the aisles. “Almost literally” because there were no aisles to roll in, but Williams was a surprisingly successful auctioneer!

Michael Williams took to auctioneering to the entertainment – and benefit – of all.

Williams’ colleague from the Randolph-Macon Academy academic staff, past president Brian Barbour, emceed the 11^th annual event and introduced the club’s new president, Barbara Ecton, who announced that funds from the dinner would be donated to The House of Hope, a residential program for homeless men in Warren County, located in Front Royal.

The House of Hope – launching second chances. Photo/Roger Bianchini

An integral component of the services the men receive is an educational program. The Rotary money will be used to employ a coordinator for the program, and to provide materials, such as computers and workbooks, needed for its success.

At this writing, the amount raised on last Saturday evening’s event was not available.