Rotary Club of Oro Valley distributes ‘Taste’ proceeds | News

The Rotary Club of Oro Valley presented funds to the beneficiaries of the Taste of Oro Valley Life fundraiser, which was canceled by high winds last March. 

Through Taste of Oro Valley Life sponsors, ticket holders, restaurants and silent auction donors and purchasers, the Rotary Club raised more than $35,000 in proceeds. 

The following nonprofit beneficiaries each received $5,000: Edge High School, Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse and IMPACT of Southern Arizona. 

After covering the event’s costs, the remaining proceeds went to the Oro Valley Rotary Foundation, which supports local Tucson nonprofits with donations of cash honorariums, goods and services.  

In addition to the beneficiaries, two Taste of Oro Valley Life sponsors attended: Lisa Bayless of Long Realty and Wendy Wise of State Farm Insurance and Financial Services. Two Taste of Oro Valley Life restaurant owners, Josh Bishop, Fork & Fire Smokehouse + Taproom and Noble Hops Gastropub, were there, too. 

Edge High School

The Rotary Club of Oro Valley has been working with Edge administration, teachers and students to help increase high school graduation rates. In addition to funds raised by the Taste of Oro Valley Life, Edge received a $4,000 Rotary District 5500 grant to help fund its 2024-25 student field trips, which the state does not cover. 

In addition, the Rotary Club of Oro Valley provides Edge with school supplies and welcomes Edge students to participate in the club’s service projects, such as cleaning up trash along Oracle Road. 

Over the last year, Rotary Club of Oro Valley members tutored Edge students in essay writing and attended student field trips.

“We rely on the continued support of donations, such as those from the Oro Valley Rotary,” said Dave Thatcher, principal of Edge High School Northeast.

“Their generous support of funds and their members’ time is invaluable to helping our students gain a high school diploma.” 

Learn more at edgehighschool.org.

Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse 

The Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse goes beyond the traditional approach of providing survivors of abuse with resources, which include emergency shelter, safety planning and domestic violence education. 

Domestic abuse is a community problem, so communities are the solution. By engaging the entire community, Emerge is addressing the underlying causes of abuse. 

“It is through the generous support from community organizations, such as the Rotary Club of Oro Valley, that we can continue to protect victims of violence,” said Ed Sakwa, CEO, Emerge. 

Learn more at emergecenter.org.  

IMPACT of Southern AZ 

During the last 10 years, the Rotary Club of Oro Valley has gathered on Saturday mornings at Trader Joe’s to pick up and distribute food to IMPACT of Southern Arizona.

In the last year, they rescued 31,674 pounds of food and, in five years, delivered 129,911 pounds of food. This is in addition to the monetary, clothing and holiday toy contributions the Rotary Club of Oro Valley has made to IMPACT during this partnership. 

In addition to the Taste of Oro Valley Life proceeds, Lisa Bayless and her husband, Jeff Stitt, donated $5,000 to IMPACT for the seniors’ food program, half of which was matched by a Rotarian. Bayless said at the Rotary Club of Oro Valley meeting that she will give $10,000 to IMPACT this fall to ensure no senior goes hungry in our area.

“IMPACT has a special long-term partnership with the Rotary Club of Oro Valley, and Lisa Bayless and her team,” said Barbara McClure, CEO of IMPACT of Southern AZ.

“Rotary’s collection of food, clothing and gifts for children and monetary donations have all made a significant difference to those deserving families that we serve throughout Southern Arizona. Together we stabilize seniors and families, help households stretch their budgets, and move people forward from striving to thriving.” 

Learn more at impactsoaz.org. 

For more information about the Rotary Club of Oro Valley, visit orovalleyrotary.org.