The Rotary Club of Niagara-on-the-Lake is getting a big lift from Peller Estates Winery and Restaurant, to the tune of $3,470, raised through the restaurant’s Holiday House Tour silent auction the previous week.
Peller Estates is the club’s platinum sponsor — its highest sponsorship level — a status it has held for “many years,” said Carol Lipsett, chair of the Holiday House Tour. The winery earns the designation through a combination of monetary and in-kind support.
“Peller has been a sponsor with us for a long time,” Lipsett said.
The club also offers gold, silver and bronze sponsorship levels.
Peller Estates held a silent auction last year that raised $1,100, Lipsett said.
The silent auction is part of the annual Holiday House Tour, held each December. The event features historic Niagara-on-the-Lake homes that owners lend to the club for decorating and public tours.
This year’s tour featured seven homes, along with a separate event at the McArthur Estate, the former residence of Trisha Romance.
“It’s become a real NOTL event,” Lipsett said. “Four thousand people approximately come every year.”
The club debriefs in January to review the event and begins fundraising, marketing and planning in February, Lipsett said. Ticket sales and corporate sponsorships support charitable organizations and help offset event expenses.
In a post on its page, the club said the donation brings this year’s Holiday House Tour total to $212,000.
In July, the club will allocate the funds — $106,000 to its international services committee and $106,000 to its local services committee — which will determine the recipient organizations, Lipsett said.
International organizations the club has supported in the past include End Polio Now and ShelterBox disaster relief.
Local recipients have included Red Roof Retreat, Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, Niagara Pumphouse, Ronald McDonald House, St. George’s Breakfast Program, Gillian’s Place, NOTL Palliative Care, Niagara Nutrition Partners, The Farmworker Hub and Westview Centre 4 Women.
Lipsett said it “takes a village” to do this work and wants the community to know about the fundraising efforts.
“It’s pretty unique,” she said.
