President of the Rotary Club of Tortola Henry O. Creque and Assistant District Governor Mrs Delma Maduro. Photo: VINO/File

Past Presidents of the Rotary Club of Tortola, Gerard St. C. Farara QC, Percy Rhoden and Lorna G. Smith. Photo: VINO/File

A scene from last year's dinner and auction. Photo: VINO/File

Some of the attendees last year. Photo: VINO/File

This was revealed to reporters yesterday afternoon February 19, 2015, at a press briefing of the club held at The Moorings following their weekly meeting.

In attendance and speaking of the significance and the event titled ‘The Grand Affair – East meets West” were Past President Mrs Lorna G. Smith, Past President Mr Percy Rhoden, Past President Mr Gerard St. C. Farara QC, Club President Mr Henry O. Creque and Assistant District Governor Mrs Delma Maduro.

“We have some specific, although not exclusive, initiatives for this year’s Grand Affair and Auction which will be held under the patronage of His Excellency The Governor, John S. Duncan OBE and Mrs. Anne Marie Duncan at Government House on Saturday, February 28, 2015. We are going to support the creation of a Youth Empowerment Centre in Purcell Estate on Tortola (akin to the very successful YEP at the eastern end of Tortola) for which we expect to apply and receive a matching Global Grant from the Rotary Foundation,” outlined Mr Farara.

Speaking to the construction of the Youth Empowerment Centre President Creque supported by his colleagues noted that it is in dire need to fill certain voids in the community and those surrounding Purcell and according to Mr Rhoden they are looking at the possibility of constructing a building from the ground up and one that can be deemed state of the art.

In addition to the aforementioned project the club has it eyes on surpassing their target of $150K of last year and said that every last penny will return to the community via various projects, interventions and events. Among those are the ‘Baby think it over’ programme which they are currently piloting at the St George's Secondary School, continued support for the Family Support Network among others.

Tickets for the event costs $200 each. The event will be a grand gala and auction and with an appetizing dinner prepared in the Western and Eastern styles, persons to be dressed in the cultural styles of all parts of the world, entertainment by local performers and those from the Western side along with music to party and have a good night by select DeeJays.

For over 47 years The Rotary Club of Tortola was said to have been changing lives positively in the Virgin Islands (VI) and abroad. Over the last 10 years, the Club has worked through its signature ‘Grand Affair and Auction’, to raise funds for specific and general needs within the community. Last year’s event raised almost $130,000 for worthy causes, in large measure due to the generosity of individuals, businesses and friends of the VI. This year the bar is higher, as the need has become much greater.

“In spite of the apparent aura of prosperity that exists in our community, we now, more than ever, need the support of all of us to help withrelieving poverty, and to ratchet up our efforts in the areas of youth development and improving the delivery of health services,” said the club in a statement.

The club members have also alluded to recognizing the fact that there is significant poverty in the Territory, a sad reality of the times. They intend as a club to investigate and identify families and individuals in need and to provide meaningful and targeted support, either directly or through the existing voluntary organizations, all of which are underfunded, under resourced and over stretched.

“Accordingly, we are grateful to the many individuals and businesses who have committed their support to this event and to the causes and we encourage others to partner with the Rotary Club of Tortola in its unwavering commitment to fight poverty in our community, to provide meaningful and regular assistance to our youth and to assist in improving the delivery of health care in the BVI, by giving/donating generously in cash and kind to this year’s Grand Affair event,” the club said.

Contact the Rotary Club of Tortola President Henry O. Creque or one of the Co-Chairs of the Grand Affair’ Committee – Past Presidents Gerard St C. Farara, Lorna G. Smith or Mr. Percy Rhoden [for tickets],” said Mr Farara.