The club’s Tour de Cookie ride, which raised more than $14,000, earned first-place for fundraising event, and the club’s “Awareness Hope Action” forum on human trafficking took top honors for community service project.
Thanks to more than 400 riders, seven sponsors, and a dozen amazing cookie booth sponsors, the 2023 Tour de Cookie rode away with top honors for best fundraising event at the District 5500 2022-23 Inspire Awards ceremony. The club’s biggest-ever cookie ride raised $14,000 to help fund local, national, and international service projects.
Then, the club’s daylong forum on the dangers of human trafficking — “Awareness Hope Action” held April 15 at Pima Community College — took home first-place in the community service category. Forum co-chairs Mary Straus and Randy Brooks accepted the award from DG Anita McDonald.
Rounding out the club’s honors during outgoing District 5500 Governor Anita McDonald’s ceremony was recognition for Marana club member Mary Straus as runner-up for the Governor’s Inspire Award. Straus was a co-chair of the forum, which drew more than 100 attendees and stakeholders.
“The honors the club received from the district reflect the core values of our club — we believe that committed individuals from all walks of life can make a positive difference in the world and have a good bit of fun at the same time,” said Marana Rotary Club President Laura Clymer.