TORRINGTON – “At the heart of being a Rotarian is the fundamental belief in serving others,” Torrington Rotary Club President-Elect John Hansen said in reference to this year’s theme for the annual wine-tasting gala: “Shamrock The World with Service Above Self”.

The 2019 event is scheduled for Friday, March 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Goshen County Fairgrounds’ Rendezvous Center. As always, hors d’oeuvres will be available as attendees visit various wine vendors, peruse a wide array of live and silent auction items, and participate in games.

“(The) wine tasting is a major fundraiser that allows us to provide scholarships, invest in youth leadership, and help local area nonprofits,” Hansen explained. “(It) boasts a selection of great auction items, truly unique packages, and items found only at the event.”

The grand prize for this year’s reverse raffle – in which the last ticket drawn wins the largest prize ­– is $5,000. Raffle tickets
are $100.

The wine tasting is the Rotary’s largest fundraising event of the year, and helps several causes, both local and worldwide, including polio eradication, installing clean water systems in Kenya, hosting exchange students, providing a community safe house, and the satellite group’s work to offer Alzheimer’s awareness and training in Torrington.

“Rotary is a worldwide fellowship of business and professional leaders and boasts 33,000 clubs spanning 200 countries totaling 1.2 million members,” Hansen said. 

Admission is $30. For tickets, call Brett Malm at (307) 532-2111 or contact any Rotary member. Attendees must be 21.