The Wakefield Rotary Club recently partnered with The Wakefield Co-Operative Bank to support Boston Marathon victims. In late April, the club decided to match any donations made by individual members to the Co-op’s Marathon Victim Relief Fund. “On the day we announced the match, our club members donated $569 in just one day,” explained Rotary Club President Amy Luckiewicz. “Our Board of Directors quickly voted to match that and our club brought the total to $1138. We sent it right over to the Co-operative Bank which had just announced their relief fund.” With the Co-operative Bank’s additional match, the Fund raised $2276 in just one day.
WakefieldCo-Op representatives Ralph Dunham (left) and Elaine Guaetta (right) receive a donation from Club President Suzanne Bowering (center).
“We love partnering with community organizations anyway,” noted Luckiewicz. “But to have the club match individual donations, and then to have the bank match that money, it was just a great tribute to the community’s response to the life-changing events at the marathon.” The donations will be kept local and be used to assist Wakefield and Lynnfield families who are recovering from the April 15th attack. The club plans on continuing to provide some additional support funds. Its upcoming fundraiser on June 8th, “Dance Thru the Decades” will feature an auction. One of the items will be an Alex and Ani “Turn Peace Up” bracelet. Luckiewicz explained. All of the proceeds from this item will go to help the marathon victims. Again, the Co-Op Bank has agreed to match the funds from the item! “Peace is this year’s Rotary theme so it’s only fitting that we turn that theme into something productive for our neighbours who are suffering from the attack.” In fact, all funds raised from the event will be used to support local and humanitarian projects.