Community Corner

Rotary's Camp Florida Hosts Brandon Pig-a-Palooza (Photos)

The first annual Pig-a-Palooza, presented by the newly formed Rotary Club of Valrico, drew about 300 attendees to Rotary's Camp Florida on May 5. Greater Brandon's newest Rotary club was formed by formed Brandon '86 Rotarians.

 

Jim Harrision, executive director of Rotary’s Camp Florida in Brandon, had nothing but smiles and praise for the Rotarians who visited the 18-acre campsite for the May 5 "Pig-a-Palooza” fundraiser.

That’s because the first major fundraiser of the newly formed Rotary Club of Valrico not only showed off the camp for children with special needs, but also helped raise funds to meet the camp’s needs.

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The event also raised funds for the Emergency Care Help Organization (ECHO), the Bill Carey Unit Boys & Girls Club of Brandon, Faces of Courage, LLT Academy Learning Fund and LifeCare of Brandon.

The event truly was a community affair, said Ryan Odiorne, the new club’s president. He noted that:

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  • Zaxby’s donated the cole slaw and fries.
  • BubbaQue’s donated the corn fritters and baked beans and cooked the pulled pork.
  • Miller’s Cafe donated the hot dogs and cooked the sliced pork.
  • Ryan Burley donated and cooked the collard greens.
  • Master Purveyors donated the pork.
  • Natalie Carr and Southern Funeral Care donated the water.

“Because of these donations, we raised even more money for charity,” Odiorne said. 

Chris McGuire is the club’s incoming president.

“I’m incoming president and I’m 26 years old,” he said. “Rotary’s viewed as an older man’s organization, something young people don’t know about. We’re going to try to change that.”

The group has the 25 members necessary to get chartered. The application has been submitted and the charter is expected to be approved within the month.

“We sent it off four days ago and it takes three weeks to process,” McGuire said.

 


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