With the 74th Annual Hopkinsville Rotary Auction exactly three months away, one thing stands true.
It’s never too early to be prepared.
This was the message Auction Chair Kelly Gates sent during Wednesday morning’s edition of WHVO’s “Hoptown This Morning,” in which she made clear that, even now, volunteers and interested parties can jump into the mix.
She laughed, noting Hopkinsville Rotary is often termed the “Auction Club,” but urged that a mission of “Service Above Self” — combined with the desire to bolster youth and educational initiatives in Christian County — requires buy-in not only from the organization, but the community.
Clearly the message is well received, she added, as Hopkinsville and the Cadiz Rotary Radio Auction remain as two of the nation’s strongest such efforts per capita.
Behind the theme of “Purposeful Pathways,” Gates noted there will be two big focuses of the auction this year.
The first, she said, involves a great partner in Hopkinsville Community College, and the Rotary Scholars Program.
The second, she said, involves the partnership forged between Murray State University, Hopkinsville Community College and Rotary Impact, in hopes of creating homegrown teachers.
Of the more than $520,000 raised during last spring’s auction, Gates said more than $64,000 came from the combined efforts of Christian County’s public and private schools.
A long-time employee of CCPS, Gates added that Superintendent Chris Bentzel has set their 2024 fundraising goal at $74,000 — which would well lap last year’s effort.
And, a reminder, Gates said it doesn’t have to be cash or time given to help make the auction a success.
The 74th annual Hopkinsville Rotary Auction will be held April 22-27.
