Thanks to you $2-million has been raised since 2004/2005 through Dryden Rotary Radio Bingo on CKDR.
The club hit $1 million in 2014 and this new milestone was reached in about half that time.
Roger Gould says a number of local organizations have benefited as a result.
Major donations since 2004 include:
-Christmas Cheer including Dryden, Ignace, Ear Falls and Red Lake: $113,500
-Entertainment Series (Dryden and Red Lake): $71,034
-Dryden Food Bank: $122,500
-Scholarships including Dryden, Ignace and Red Lake: $127,500
-Dryden Regional Health Centre: $362,500
-Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Memorial Hospital: $85,850
-Meno Ya Win Health Centre in Sioux Lookout: $34,816
-Mary Berglund Health Centre in Ignace: $21,500
-Second Chance Pet Network: $19,450
-Tamarac House: $81,000
Sioux Lookout receives an amount proportionate to their annual card sales which they distribute based on the decision of their Rotary Club but based on Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario rules.
Some of their main charities receiving donations are the Sioux Lookout Out of the Cold program and books and a breakfast program for the Sioux North High School.
Roger Gould says even a shortened season didn’t slow them down.
“No matter what. We still had 21,015 cards sold this past year. Last year was 26,179 cards sold. So with everything that has happened with COVID we still did pretty good. Unfortunately we weren’t there for the people though.”
Normally there are 26 games a season and Rotary was able to host 21 games this season.
In ten years, card sales have gradually increased by over 7,000 per year.
Joanne Kusnick initiated Rotary Radio Bingo and she talks about they wanted to offer the service.
“We are good people who want to do good things for our communities and really for the world. If Rotary could help with this pandemic, we would be the first people up to bat to say what can we do. Rotary is all about giving back and helping your fellow man.”
Kusnick says they couldn’t reach the $2-million achievement without the ongoing support of vendors and all of those across the region who play.
“We’ve increased the players by ten-fold from 2004 until now. Everybody is supporting us because they see what we give back and how much we’ve achieved in helping our communities.”
Kusnick and Gould say the Rotary Club is anxious to once again offer Bingo every Thursday this Fall.
It requires at least 370 volunteer hours a season.
To hear more from Roger Gould and Joanne Kusnick, visit the Audio link below.
