Event raises funds for Ukraine

SANDUSKY — More than $7,000 raised at a local Rotary Club event will be used to help Ukraine. Six area Rotary clubs banded together to sponsor a fun-filled night of entertainment on Thursday at HALO Live. Rotary Rally for Ukraine was a free event with live entertainment. Donations were accepted at the door. The six clubs that worked together on the event were: Port Clinton, Fremont, Huron, Oak Harbor, Sandusky and Vermilion. The genesis of the event occurred a month ago when officials from each club held a brainstorming session to come up with a fundraiser that could raise at least $3,000. Before the event started, the clubs had already raised $4,000, according to John Davenport, president-elect of the Port Clinton club. Davenport said an anonymous donor will match funds raised in the Rotary Club Northwest Ohio District if they reach their $50,000 goal. He also said the Gates Foundation is matching all donations to the Rotary International disaster fund for Ukraine. This means the funds collected in Sandusky on Thursday could be quadrupled. Since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, more than 4.3 million Ukrainians have fled their homes, according to the United Nations Human Rights Council. "All former Soviet countries know what Ukraine is going through right now," said Lithuanian-born Audrone Ciraite. "I've been to Ukraine," said Davenport. "The people are nice." Live entertainment was provided by Island Song Trio, Paul Franks, and Sea Jamz 7.