The true colors of Aroostook County have been showing brightly once again this holiday season as evident at the Presque Isle Rotary Club’s annual auction that took place earlier this month.
This year’s “Community Project” was to raise funds to build a new playground at Riverside Park. The County’s generosity and selflessness was on full display, as the event helped bring in over $250,000 for the project.
This year’s auction marked the Presque Isle Rotary event’s 70th year. Certainly there were some significant changes from years past, including the event being held in one day, the new auction store and the shift of broadcasting to WAGM. However, this year’s event saw another first, one that I believe is the special reason this year’s event was especially successful.
For the very first time, the Presque Isle Rotary, Presque Isle Kiwanis, United Way of Aroostook and the City of Presque Isle joined forces in one major goal. Individually, each of these organizations benefit our communities in so many ways, which many of us don’t even realize. By combining their efforts, ideas, and resources toward one objective, these organizations have helped inspire a widespread generosity well beyond their members. The public truly stepped up and continued to give and give, making the Riverside Playground Project a soon-to-be reality.
Having played a very small part in this collaboration, I have witnessed the hard work and passion these organizations put forth. I would like to thank them for all they do and continue to do in making Presque Isle and Aroostook County a very special place.
For those who do not know, the Riverside Playground Project fundraising effort is not over and if you would like to donate to this great project, please reach out to myself, the United Way of Aroostook or any member of the Presque Isle Rotary or Kiwanis Club.
Chris Beaulieu is director of Presque Isle Recreation & Parks. He can be reached at 764-2545 or via email at cbeaulieu@presqueisleme.us.
