The Rotary Club of Sooke will host a new fundraising event in place of its annual spring fair and auction this year.
The community service group will host RAD 2018, a dinner and auction at the Prestige Hotel in Sooke. More than 200 people are expected to attend.
The event takes place on May 12.
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Roger Temple, president of the Rotary Club of Sooke, said the club was down in membership this year, so the spring fair auction would have been too large of an event to hold.
“We thought it would be nice to do something different this year. It’s a total change for us, but we’ve received a lot of positive reactions from people in the community so far,” Temple said. “I’m really excited and it will be a great way to celebrate Mother’s Day.”
This year’s smaller event will feature a high-end buffet meal, drinks, music, guest speakers and both a live and silent auction. Proceeds from the event go towards local causes.
“The silent auction will have a lot fewer items this year, but I think the live auction will be very much the same,” Temple said.
Temple said the club hopes to attract more members, and to be able to bring back the spring auction in 2019. The annual event has raised “hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last 25 years,” and this year at the dinner Rotary members hope to raise approximately $10,000.
“The Rotary Club’s intent is to make a difference in the community by raising funds, and I am really looking forward to what we have planned this year. I think it’s going to be quite a fun event,” Temple said.
Tickets to RAD 2018 cost $60 and can be bought at Little Vienna’s Bakery, or by emailing Roger Temple at rogertemple48@gmail.com.