Rotary Club eyeing possible winter carnival with Charity Classic funds

While the Bella Vista Rotary Club isn’t exactly a charity, it is a nonprofit and has been involved with the Bella Vista Charity Classic since the event started in 2017. Those first years, the group helped provide a meal for the participants and received a share of the proceeds, but more recently the Rotary Club joined other charities and participated in the silent auction and the Pro-Am Tournament.

Club President Holly Holliman said the group is planning a new event and will use the APT funds to help get it started.

People, she said, always list family and kids events among the things Bella Vista needs, so the Rotary Club will sponsor a free winter carnival for residents. It’s still in the planning stages, she emphasized, but it will probably happen after Christmas when things slow down. Many of her members have been involved in similar events, including some that were sponsored by the Property Owners Association in years past. They will use that experience to develop a new tradition, possibly adding partnerships with other groups.

Throughout the year, all the funds the Rotary Club generates go directly to one of their charities, she said. They have always supported education and activities for families.

The local group reached out to other area clubs to fill the Pro-Am Tournament teams and have already registered four teams. They’ve also collected the maximum number of silent auction items. Some Rotary Club members are also working with the Bella Vista Foundation on securing sponsors for the tournament.