We have shared before how Prior Lake Rotary’s Lakefront Music Fest, the proceeds from the Club’s largest fundraiser, help to make a difference in all the giving and doing the Club does. As we recently shared, this giving and doing totaled $439,095 in the 2023-2024 Rotary year alone.
This year, we had 33 non-profit organizations or clubs who participated as volunteer groups. And eight of those were other Rotary Clubs from around the area. In all, these groups provided 3,600 volunteer hours, while the general public had 2,200 volunteer hours. For Prior Lake Rotarians, the documented total, which we know is definitely on the light side, had 1,550 documented, while their family members had 500 volunteer hours. That brings us to just over 8,000 total document volunteer hours. As Mary Haugen, one of the of our Volunteer Coordinators stated, “Every time I do these calculations, I'm sort of overwhelmed. That's what it takes to put on this Music Fest. And without all of you who are guests today, we wouldn't be able to do that."
For the funds earned from those groups and those volunteer hours, Prior Lake Rotary was able to give out $108,615! Today, we had most of those organizations in attendance. And they shared what the funds will be used for. We wanted to share a few of those.
The Prior Lake Snowmobile Association will use the funds for new signs for trails for smaller snowmobile clubs around Scott County, and even Chaska in Carver County. The Prior Lake Bass Club will use the funds to put on a spring crappie tournament for youth. It’s treated like an actual fishing tournament and they give away free prizes. Holy Trinity United Methodist Church will use funds towards their community garden which supports the CAP Agency and other food shelves. La ola del lago school helps fund the Spanish intern program serving about 500 children. Southern Valley Alliance will use the funds for their 24/7 crisis line for emergencies or for people who just need assistance or help. In 2023, 2,251 calls came into the crisis line, so it is a very needed service. Jordan Lions will use the money to support events like A Basket of Food at the holidays that serves approximately 200 families. Prior Lake Lions will use the money to fund diabetic kits in the schools for nurses to treat children when they have low blood sugar.
For some of the Rotary Clubs, West St. Paul/Mendota Heights Rotary Club will use the funds to offset the costs of the ethics program they hold for about 65 youth. Orono Rotary will use the donation and pass it on for Venture, who they support, which will provide 1,800 meals, and also to support an organization that has saved 516 young women to date from human trafficking. Shakopee Rotary will use the funds for the Shakopee Celebrate Reading program where they provide a book and backpack full of goodies for every 1st grade student, which is about 600 students. And also to help support the quarterly Loaves & Fishes program, which serves about 800 people. So about 1400 people positively impacted.
Lakeville Rotary will help fund a program called GiGi's Playhouse for down syndrome children and adults. Specifically, the achievement center will provide advanced education for down syndrome children in high school. All programs are free of charge, and they currently serve 15 families. The donation to Edina Morningside Rotary Club will translate into 9,000 meals that will be provided through VEEP, a food shelf that addresses food insecurity. Said Brad Johnson from Edina Morningside Rotary Club, “I think it's unprecedented that a Rotary Club shares their successful-event proceeds with other Clubs.”
It was truly amazing to hear all the good the money will be used for. As Prior Lake Rotarian Harry Algyer stated, “This is always one of the best Club meetings of the year! It is great that all the Rotarians get to hear all the good these funds will go towards because we put the Music Fest on every year.” We couldn’t agree more, Harry. What a morning!
