At the Tehachapi Rotary Club's April 25th meeting, Mary Beth Garrison gave an interesting and inspiring presentation on the history of Toast to Philanthropy. Cheers to Charity, whose motto is “Eat, Drink, Help Change the World,” began in a Veritas parking lot in 2014 and continues to grow in size and popularity each year.
The Cheers Charity will be held on the second weekend of August to celebrate 2024 with the theme 'A Decade of Doing Good'. Its mission has always been to host fun fundraisers that raise money for local nonprofits, and 32 nonprofits have benefited from its efforts.
Over the past 10 years, the event has raised more than $375,000, all of which stays in the Tehachapi community and benefits various nonprofit organizations. The Tehachapi Rotary Club has been a partner in this event for six years, planning and organizing the silent auction and wine pull activities. Over the past six years, these two activities of his alone have generated nearly $35,000.
Garrison said she got the idea for the local fundraiser from her 20-year background working in television. Her job allowed her to go to many fundraisers and experience different events. She soon realized that they all had one thing in common: they all had the right heart and intentions. She said she learned a lot, had a good time and people are generous when she's participating with people she likes. They developed the concept of “Cheers to Charity” out of this heartfelt feeling, and she envisioned an event that people would enjoy and remember.
In its first year, Cheers to Charity sold 148 tickets, raised $15,000, and a small number of nonprofit organizations contributed to the success of the event. Two years later, the event outgrew the Veritas parking lot and moved to Aviator Park near the airport. The event continues to grow, with approximately 800 tickets sold in 2023. The event now features a number of food and beverage vendors, many wineries and breweries offering samples, great booths offering “spirit-free” drink options, a coffee bar, a dessert bar, a casino corner, a DJ and dance floor. As the sun sets, the venue will be illuminated with stunning lighting provided by volunteers.
Many nonprofit organizations can help organize your event, including setup, parking, and clean-up. As a result, Cheers to Charity made a significant donation to Tehachapi Mountain Search and Rescue, CERT – Community Emergency Response Team, and Tehachapi Valley Wrestling Club to thank them for their assistance with the event.
Cheers to Charity will be held on Saturday August 10th and tickets are already on sale. The goal is to sell 1,000 copies this year, and about 270 have already been sold. In addition, Cheers to Charity is looking for sponsors to help with many of the initial costs of hosting an event, which can be quite expensive. This year, the dance floor will be expanded and there will also be a Light Up the Night event for even more dancing.
To thank Mary Beth Garrison for her “Cheers to Charity” presentation at a Rotary meeting, Past President Linda Carhart presented her with a certificate and $100 was donated to The Rotary Foundation in her honor. was donated to.
The Tehachapi Rotary Club meets every Thursday at noon at Kelsey's. Rotary is committed to Service Above Self, dedicating its time and resources to community projects, scholarships for college-bound high school seniors, and support for the global effort to eradicate polio. Masu.
Susan Andreas Berber is secretary of the Rotary Club of Tehachapi.