As the Washington State Fair concluded its annual event on September 22, South Hill Rotarians put away their colored pom-poms and closed the year on another successful parking lot fundraiser. Attired in bright green shirts, members of the Club parked thousands of cars as fairgoers entered the lot excited for a day of adventure at the Fair.
Located directly across from the main gate at the Fair, the large lot offered convenient and easily accessible parking for fairgoers. Proceeds from the lot will support many community projects and activities. Those projects include support for transitional housing for homeless families, local animal services, literacy, and local library projects, and high school and college student scholarships. Over the years, the Club has also donated substantially to the Puyallup Food Bank, international water projects, the Mel Korum YMCA, the Salvation Army Senior Center, youth ball fields at Bradley Lake Park, and many other local and international projects.
This year’s event was chaired by past president Jeff Lieurance. After receiving word that the parking lot was available, Jeff and members of the club went to work. They cleared and cleaned the lot in order to be ready for the fair’s August 30 opening day. Club members, friends, and family signed up to work the lot—waving pom-poms to attract customers, taking cash, and parking cars.
“It is a lot of work,” exclaimed Club President Kevin Bates “but the benefits to the members of our community are tremendous!”