This club orchestrated a large fundraiser during the first few years of its existence, by soliciting donations from other Sertoma Clubs in the region, as well as individual Sertoma members and others, to “sponsor” elements of the proposed High and Low Ropes Course. The goal was to raise $20,000 in cash and apply for a Matching Grant from the Sertoma Foundation. the club was successful in its grant request, and was awarded an additional $10,000 to match the $20,000 it already raised. The donations kept coming in, however, and the club raised just over $35,000 in total for the ropes course project.
In addition to the Ropes Course project, the Club has also funded scholarships for children to attend the Sertoma Deaf Camp for several summers, it has purchased items to support the camp including outdoors equipment, it has provided funds necessary to sponsor capital improvements at the Sertoma 4-H Educational Center, not only wiht providing funds, but also by providing labor and materials as well. Numerous projects have been completed, including rebuilding the porch of Cheshire Hall, remodeling several aspects of the Sertoma Lodge, refurbishing the bathrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors of Cheshire Hall, upgrading some of the cabins, building picnic tables and fences, lots of painting, landscaping, building, remodeling projects all over camp property. The club has also donated other items for the betterment of Camp Sertoma, including over 20 rocking chairs which beautify the porches of Cheshire Hall and other locations on the property.
Fundraisers
To raise the funds needed for these projects, the Club has raised funds in several ways, including BBQ Dinners, Silent Auctions, Raffles, Rocking Chair “Adoptions”, direct solicitations, and much more. Also, a large portion of each member’s annual dues also goes directly into the club’s sponsorship fund to provide monies for projects.
