Rotary clubs in northern Arizona have embraced a unique approach to fundraising at a time when social distancing has blocked many club fundraising efforts.  The Rotary Clubs of Sedona, Flagstaff, Sedona Village, and Verde Valley are collaborating in a fundraiser designed to support businesses, help expand the Navajo Water Project, and build the Rotary brand for area Rotary clubs during these difficult times.

 

Members of the four clubs are purchasing gift certificates from local businesses.  The gift certificates will then be auctioned online (using CharityAuctionsToday.com) with the proceeds going toward the Navajo Water Project.

 

The clubs view this as a win-win-win-win:

 

Local businesses win from funds received in the original purchase of the gift certificates.

 

The businesses win again when the gift-card-purchaser frequents the business becoming a new customer and spending dollars beyond the value of the gift certificate.

 

The Rotary clubs win as they have a chance to show their appreciation to local businesses from ongoing support of Rotary projects and the clubs expand their brand by showcasing the difference Rotarians make.

 

The Navajo Water Project wins through the heightened awareness the fundraiser brings and from the auction proceeds that will help with water installations in homes in the Navajo Nation.

 

 

 

The Rotary Club of Sedona is this year’s host club for Phase II of the Navajo Water project, which will install in-home water systems to families in Dilkon, AZ who will have running water for the first time. Over 200 water systems have been installed on the Navajo Reservation since 2017. Each water installation costs $4,500.

 

“Every $4,500 we raise means that another family will have clean running hot and cold water in their home, and probably for many, the first time they will have some electricity in the home,” said David Simmer, Immediate Past District 5495 Governor. “We will raise as much as we can, so we can do as many homes as possible.”

 

For more info about the Navajo Water Project:  https://www.navajowaterproject.org/

 

 

To get an idea of whether this might be a fundraising option for your club and to preview the auction items visit: https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/Rotary-Navajo-Water-Project-12350  

 

For more information, contact IPDG David Simmer, dsimmer9@gail.com