A record-setting 42 projects have been funded through Rotary Local this school year.  Supporting the needs of teachers and using Tucson vendors – grants have been made in schools in all Pima County School Districts plus many schools in the private sector.  Co-chairs of Rotary Local are John Lee and James Mandolini.

Funding comes from the Taste of Chocolate.  On April 23d, a record number of sponsors helped raise over $27,000.  Celebrity Judges included: Wes Callison – Tucson News Now Meteorologist; Chelo Grubb – Tucson Local Media Web Editor; Al Kath- KGUN9 Traffic; Cyndi LaFrese – 92.9 My Mornings; Dave Leighton – AZ Daily Star Columnist; Mark Napier – Pima Sheriff; Dr. Mark Stegeman, TUSD Board Member; Janice Yu, Tucson News Now Reporter.  Celebrity Judge Winners are El Cisne, Cayley Cakes, Bell’s Baking & Catering and Zink’s Treats [7^th year in a row].  Public Choice winners are Elliott’s on Congress, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Culinary Design Catering [6^th year in a row] Zink’s Treats, and Alfonso’s Gourmet Olive Oil and Balsamics.

Rotary International is a global service organization, operating in over 130 countries with 1.2 million members and 35,000 local clubs.   Rotary initiated the international effort to eliminate polio around the world; since the mid-1980’s Rotary has contributed $1.1 billion to the $11 billion undertaking.  Countless children have been saved from the scourges of polio because individual Rotarians have helped distribute over 2 billion doses of the vaccine in 122 countries.

The Rincon Rotary Club meets at 12:10 p.m. Thursdays at the Tucson Country Club.  See https://tucsontasteofchocolate.wordpress.com,visit the Rincon Rotary Club Facebook page, or see www.rotarylocal.org