HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – On April 27, the 74th annual Hopkinsville Rotary Auction wrapped up, raising a total of $560,074.48 and awarding ten grants. Funds were raised from the 776 auction items that were sold, in addition to the Diner and Sweet Shoppe and the Hour Club and Goat Club.

With the theme of Purposeful Pathways, volunteers worked hard for six days straight to set up live streams, prepare food, facilitate the auction, and talk with community members all week long.

“It takes that long to plan a week-long event with so many moving parts. The work is long and tough, but it is our favorite week of the year,” said Kelly Gates the auction chair for Hopkinsville Rotary Club. “We are an all-volunteer organization, we come together to facilitate this auction.”

Grant money and strengthened mission

“Giving money for youth and educational initiatives is why we do what we do, it is why the tradition of the auction has lasted 74 years,” Gates told Christian County Now. “It is our honor to give these grants. The money is raised by our community and should stay in our community for the youth that make up our future.”

During the auction, the Rotary Foundation was able to award targeted and progressive grants to youth and youth servicing agencies, according to Gates. The Department of Juvenile Justice’s Christian County Community Connections program was awarded $5,000 along with the Hopkinsville-Christian County Youth League, Christian County Head Start, and the Christian County Special Olympics.

Christian County 4-H was awarded a $9,000 grant, four local high schools were given $10,000 for their visual arts programs, and the Hopkinsville Fire Department was awarded $11,000. Also, CASA of Christian County received a $15,000 grant, and local STEM education programs were also awarded $25,000.

Money also goes to the Rotary Scholars Program, where qualifying local graduates from any Christian County school can attend Hopkinsville Community College for two years, tuition free.

“Every dollar raised has strengthened the mission to have an educated and trained workforce which creates self-sufficiency which leads to economic development for a better Hopkinsville and Christian County,” said Gates.

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