For more than three decades, Rotarian and Sands Suites & Motel owner Jessie Norris has hosted a fundraiser to raise funds for local charities. This year, $3,440 was raised at the October 11, 2013 event and donated to the Hearst Cancer Resource Center (HCRC), located at French Hospital Medical Center.
“We were thrilled to be named the recipient of this year’s donation,” said HCRC Executive Director, Bev Kirkhart. “This resource center was built on community donations, and these funds are what make all of our services available free of charge to those living with cancer and their loved ones.”
The HCRC helps patients maintain dignity and quality of life throughout all aspects of their cancer care. They serve patients and their families, ranging from those newly diagnosed with cancer, in treatment, in recovery, and survivors.
Norris plans and hosts the event at his hotel, filling the parking garage with tables and chairs, a speaker’s dais and setting up a Santa Maria-style buffet. He does this as a member of the Monday Rotary Club in San Luis Obispo, and has since 1978. Norris estimates that close to $100,000 has been donated to charity organizations since that time.
Originally the funds raised would go to variety of organizations, but when Norris’ wife June was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, the intent of the gift changed to always support cancer research efforts or those living with cancer. June Norris lived for 11 years after her diagnosis, and passed away in 2005.
In 1995 Norris’ Rotary Club extended an offer to the other two San Luis Obispo Clubs, and the Tuesday Daybreak and Wednesday de Tolosa Clubs joined the effort. The three clubs participate each year on the event, and the Kiwanis Club provides the barbeque.
“It’s a nice thing for the three Rotary Clubs to come together on a project like this,” Norris said. “And having the Kiwanis Club here as well really shows the good we can do when we work together.”
Rotary International’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and around the globe. The 1.2 million Rotarians who make up more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in nearly every country in the world share a dedication to the ideal of Service Above Self. Rotary Clubs are open to people from all walks of life who want to dedicate their time to the betterment of their community.
For more information about Rotary, please visit rotary.org.