Submitted by Alyssa Ballard, Rotaract
Millennials have found their place in Coronado and are already making a difference in the community. Coronado Rotaract formed in January of this year with guest speakers at their business meetings including Mayor Richard Bailey, Broker Mike Moser, and Financial Adviser Tim Cusick. Alternating between business meetings, they participate in acts of service including: Rotary’s Beach Cleanup, Rotary’s Pancake Breakfast, Rotarians at Work Day and La Hacienda Orphanage International Service Event. While Rotary has been instrumental in kicking off the new group (Rotaract President Natalie Bailey is an active member of Rotary), Rotaract has soared on their own now with a major fundraising event within four months of inception.
Coronado Rotaract’s Bar Crawl, led by part of Rotaract’s executive team, Natalie Bailey, Mandy Rowe, and Madison Marchetti, took place last Saturday. The cost of the event was $15.00 a person with all proceeds going to Team Quinn, a non profit in Coronado. Coronado Rotaract’s Bar Crawl started at Il Fornaio, went to Nicky Rottens, enjoyed a ride under the bridge with a stop at Feast and Fareway at the golf course, and ended at McP’s. As a new group, Coronado Rotaract was overjoyed with the community response and engagement in the event – over half of attendees were not Coronado Rotaract members. There were about 40 people on the crawl and the event raised over $500 for Team Quinn!
Christian Herrera, Coronado Rotaract member, assisted in communicating with restaurants and gathering door prizes. Christian emphasizes his excitement about the fundraiser, “The bar crawl was such a success and a very fun event. It was great to see local businesses, Coronado Rotaract and community members come together for a very important cause.” President Natalie echoed his thoughts, “We had such a great day biking around Coronado and raising awareness for Coronado Rotaract and Team Quinn. Il Fornaio, Nicky Rottens, Feast and Fareway at the golf course, and McP’s were so kind to accommodate our group and to donate drink specials and gift certificates for the raffle prizes. We look forward to making this an annual event!” Coronado Rotaract would also like to thank other prize donors – True REST Float Spa, Flagship Cruises and Events, San Diego Trading Company, Bumble Bizz, Dr. Suzanne Popp and Heidi Nevitt.
Demi Waitley, part of Team Quinn, shares what the fundraiser meant to the cause. “Coronado Rotaract’s first fundraiser this weekend was a huge success! Biking from bar to bar around Coronado was so much fun. It gave us many opportunities to socialize and network with each other, and engage with local Coronado restaurants as well. Team Quinn is so grateful to all the Rotaract members who donated their time and energy to put together this event. We could not have been more impressed by the turnout, donations, and the positive feedback from the participants. A big part of our mission as a non-profit is to engage and involve the community, and because of Coronado Rotaract we were able to make huge strides toward this goal. We are looking forward to our next event and the new faces that we will have there!”
Interested in joining Coronado Rotaract or following along in their mission? Like them on Facebook!
Want to learn more about Coronado Rotary? Check out their website!
Team Quinn’s mission is to celebrate, encourage, support and share the richness and purpose that people with disabilities contribute to our human experience and our personal communities. The group holds adaptive surf events for people with disabilities and by providing access to the beach and the option to surf, they begin to create a shift in perspective as to what is accomplishable, experienced, and overcome. Visit their website.
