Anacortes Rotary Dinner Nets More Than $25,000; Four Groups Benefit
 
Four local organizations will share in the more than $25,000 generated by the Anacortes Rotary Club annual community benefit dinner February 24 at Anthony's Cap Sante restaurant.  The 150 dinner guests helped raise funding for computer, technology and equipment needs.
 
Grant recipients are Friends of the Anacortes Library, Friends of Fidalgo Pool & Fitness Center, Anacortes Senior Activity Foundation and American Legion Causland Post 13.
 
 The Rotary Club made the following grant allocations from the dinner proceeds:
 
Friends of Anacortes Library — $9,800 for three computers pre-loaded with educational software designed for children from 2 to 12 years of age with over 65 educational applications and more than 2,000 activities.
 
Friends of Fidalgo Pool & Fitness Center — $5,200 for a new and better chair lift to lower and lift handicapped or injured patrons to and from the water with ease.  

Anacortes Senior Activity Foundation — $3,500 for computer monitors for vision impaired users.

American Legion, Causland Post 13 — $2,500 for a dedicated computer system, an   urgent technology need so the post can continue assisting veterans.
 
Additional funds raised during the dinner will go to other Anacortes Rotary Club community charitable grants this year, club officials said.
 
As part of the evening’s events, Anacortes Rotary Club President Tom Griffin paid tribute to Anthony’s owner Budd Gould with an honorary Rotary membership.
 
In remarks honoring Gould, Griffin noted that Anthony’s contributes the food, facilities and service so that all money from tickets directly benefits the club’s charitable giving program.
 
“Through Budd Gould’s generosity and the hard work of his staff, our club is able to maximize our dinner fund-raising efforts.  Anthony’s opens its doors to the Anacortes community for this event. Their local team sets aside the day to hold a wonderful evening with a special menu and amazing service to assist local groups,” Griffin said.
 
“We know our club could not host an event of this size and quality and generate community funding like this without the major effort of the Anthony’s staff,” said Club dinner organizer Kevin Meenaghan.  “Our sincere thanks go to Anthony’s owner Budd Gould and all the Anthony's local team members for their outstanding community service. We look forward to continuing this tradition.”
 
For the past five years, Anthony's has set aside its restaurant for the Anacortes Rotary Club community dinner, helping the club raise approximately $121,000.  Past grant recipients include the Anacortes Boys & Girls Club, Gentry House, the Senior Activity Center, the Anacortes Family Center and the Salvation Army Cold Weather Shelter.