SKANEATELES ROTARY CHRISTMAS BENEFIT - 2017 
$11.500 Raised for Skaneateles Outreach and the Skaneateles & Sprfford Food Pantries. 
     President Mary Giroux welcomed more than 200 Rotarians, their spouses & guests who gathered in the Skaneateles Country Club to support the needy in our Skaneateles Community. Beautiful seasonal music was provided by musician Win Price. Rev Craig Lindsey, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church offered a heartwarming blessing.
     After a delicious turkey dinner, master of ceremonies, Bill Conole, thanked everyone for participating in our club’s annual event to raise funds for the Christmas need & wishes of those in our community who are less fortunate than we are. Bill gave special thanks to the SCC Staff for the terrific holiday venue & dinner. Bill noted that since it’s inception more than 80 years ago has orchestrated an annual Christmas Party to raise funds for those in our community who need help at this special time of year. To do this our club partners with the staff of the Skaneateles Outreach Office & the Skaneateles & Spafford food pantries to identify & assist the families & individuals in our community who are destitute this holiday season.
     A great time was had by all during our raffle. About 150 attendees won raffle prizes. The gala celebration was concluded by everyone singing Silent Night.
     Thanks to all of members our 2017 Rotary Christmas Benefit was a big success. We raised more than $11,500, all of which immediately went out for the Christmas needs in our community. Our members pitched in to sell tickets, to engender enthusiasm for people to come to the dinner, by soliciting our merchants for raffle gifts & by contributing their own gifts. Most of all our members must be saluted for the time & effort they devoted to make this most worthy venture so successful this year.