This weekend I volunteered my time again with the Markham Sunrise Rotary Club whom I joined in 2015. Their main fundraising event each year is a Rib & Music Fest. This year already the 15th time. A good amount of money is raised (net between $20,000-30,000) during three days. Most of the money this year will go to a local hospital to support a program for long-term sick children. Some of it goes to international development projects. Seneca is one of the corporate sponsors.
The music podium has non-stop bands perform from Friday 5 - 11 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 11 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. The banner of Seneca clearly indicates its support to this very diverse community and the audience appreciates it a lot. The three days this year were non-stop beautiful weather (in July 2016 we had three days non-stop rain and actually the club lost money on the event organization). The revenues over expenses should be a good amount this time.
The "ribbers" had long line-ups; about 15,000 visitors this year (the photo above was taken early on Saturday before the gates were opened). There are also always a number of fun things for the kids to do so it is really a family event each time. My volunteer job has been the past two years to be at the gate and charge the visitors a $2 entrance fee. Here is the crew waiting early Saturday...
But even the "service above self" volunteer needs his breaks and I tried to stay with a healthy soup and salad or sandwich these three days. Just today I took a rib rack. Done for this time. The folks in Markham enjoyed the event again. Well done Markham Sunrise Rotary Club & volunteers!!
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