The Rotary Club of Key West will hold its signature annual fundraiser — Casino Night — on Saturday, May 16 at the Beachside Resort from 6:30 to 11 p.m.
“Every dollar raised on May 16 goes right back into the Lower Keys — scholarships for local students,” said Rotarian Mike Krause, who chairs the Casino Night committee. “But it’s more than a fundraiser. It’s the one night where Key West’s business owners, civic leaders and neighbors all show up under the same roof, dressed up and have a blast doing good. That’s what the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, looks like in action.”
The event will have a Roaring ’20s Speakeasy theme, featuring art deco glamour, black and gold decor, jazz-era cocktails and live music courtesy of the Key West Jazz Society.
“Plus, guests get classic casino-style gaming, top-shelf raffle and auction prizes, and what we expect will be our biggest turnout yet,” Krause said.
The Rotary Club of Key West’s scholarships have helped hundreds of local students further their education and future plans.
“These aren’t names on a list; they’re kids you’ve seen at the grocery store, at the beach, in the hallways of our schools,” Krause said. “They’re our community’s future doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs and leaders. When you buy a ticket, place a bid or become a sponsor, you’re not just attending a party. You’re telling a young person, ‘We believe in you.’
“Rotary gives you something that’s genuinely hard to find anywhere else — a group of people who run businesses, raise families and still carve out real time to make their community better,” he said. “You walk in for the service and you stay for the friendships. For me, it’s been one of the most rewarding parts of living in Key West. If anyone reading this has ever thought, ‘I’d like to do something here that actually matters,’ I’d tell them to come check us out. We meet every Thursday at noon at the Beachside — come as our guest.”Tickets are $100 per person until May 15, then $150 at the door. More information is at kwrotarycasinonight.org.
