Boys & Girls Clubs, others benefit from ‘Rotary Toast’

Maria Katrien Heslin, Bloomington Rotary | courtesy photoShown from left are Dr. Larry Rink; Rotarians Cassaundra Huskey, Scott Walters and Jean Dayton; Jeff Baldwin, executive director, Boys & Girls Clubs; and Rotarians Jodi Hoagland, Sara Laughlin, George Karnes and Gabe Colman.

March 17, 2016 | Hoosier Times

The three Bloomington Rotary clubs teamed up last fall to honor Indiana University men’s basketball team physician and renowned cardiologist Dr. Larry Rink at the inaugural Bloomington Rotary Toast.

The event at the Indiana Memorial Union Tudor Room was a complete sellout and raised $19,917.65 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington — Rink’s selection for half of the proceeds — and another $19,917.65 for other local causes of the three Bloomington Rotary clubs.

Club members and Dr. Rink presented Jeff Baldwin, Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington executive director, with a check celebrating the generosity of donors and the funds raised.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington is dedicated to serving youth in our local community by providing camps and programs after school hours, during holiday breaks and summer recess. Programs and services are designed to build character and strengthen life skills.

There are three Rotary clubs in the city: Bloomington Rotary (noon Tuesday luncheons at the Indiana Memorial Unioin); Bloomington Sunrise (7 a.m. Wednesday breakfasts at Hilton Garden Inn); and Bloomington North (noon Thursday luncheons at IMU). Club members gather weekly to exchange ideas, build relationships and take action. The Second Annual Bloomington Rotary Toast is scheduled for Nov. 4. The honoree and charity recipient will be announced by the Toast steering committee later this spring.

Rotary International has 1.2 million members in 35,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.