Palatine Rotary donating $50,000 in Oktoberfest proceeds

Rotary Club of Palatine's annual Oktoberfest last year not only was fun for patrons, but the money spent there also will be doing good around town.

The club raised about $50,000 from the Oktoberfest that went from Sept. 14-16 in downtown Palatine, money that it's now directed to organizations that serve the community.

"This is the reason I joined the Rotary Club of Palatine," said Cindy Stoeckel, Rotary Club of Palatine's president for 2018-2019. "When I see how we've helped the community, I realize that all of the hard work we do throughout the year is worthwhile."

Among the nonprofits to receive a slice of the $50,000 are the Palatine Township Senior Center, Shelter Inc., the Palatine Park District's Tiger Sharks swim team, Escorted Transportation Service Northwest, JOURNEYS-The Road Home and Wings Program Inc., which serves domestic violence victims.

Donation amounts were determined by the club's allocation committee, based on a need described in the request and the positive effect the money is expected have on the community. The checks, presented at a recent gathering at The Cotillion in Palatine, were among the largest in the 11 years of Oktoberfest.

"It's a great feeling to be part of an organization that can give back so much, especially when so many have had to cut back in recent years," Stoeckel said.

Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. The Palatine branch represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women.

For more information, check out palatinerotary.com or email info@palatinerotary.com.