Shoes & Snacks for BackPacks

The Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club announces its first annual "Shoe & Snacks for Backpacks" fundraising event, scheduled to take place at Timber Ridge Resort on Sunday, February 21st from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The $15 event registration fee will sponsor one fully supplied backpack for the 2010 ‘Backpacks for Kids’ program. Participants will enjoy a snowshoe trek on groomed trails with complimentary hot beverages and snacks. Limited on-site rentals ($5/pair) are available thanks to event partner, GT Cycle (231-941-4868). Advance registration is encouraged. This is a family-friendly event with a maximum registration fee of $25. Additional donations are welcomed. Please visit www.tcsunriserotary.org for details, or contact Jessica Luckey at 932-6238.

The “Backpacks for Kids” project began in 2004 when the Sunrise Rotary Club partnered with Traverse City Public Schools (TCAPS) to ensure every elementary student had a backpack full of the supplies they needed. Each year TCAPS provides Sunrise Rotary Club with a list of students who are eligible to participate in the program. Additionally, the Club has routinely provided 150 back packs to Goodwill for their distribution. In 2009, the program was expanded to include TBAISD as well as students in STEP (Students in Transition Empowerment Program) based at Traverse City High School. Since the project inception, over 7,700 back packs have been donated to worthy children. “Some children may have gone without; this is a great program that makes sure all our kids are ready, and have the tools to learn,” says Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary President Jeff Buday.

The Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club, formed in 1999, is one of three Traverse City Rotary International clubs. Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities, international exchanges for students, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is “Service Above Self.”
For more information on the Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club, visit www.tcsunriserotary.org.