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ESPERANZA PANCAKE BREAKFAST
On Nov 6, 1983, the Rotary Club of Mission
Viejo held it's first Pancake Breakfast to raise money to send Special Needs
(physically challenged) students (at the Esperanza School in Mission Viejo )to the
Special Olympics. The Olympics was and is held annually in Los
Angeles. The pancake breakfast each year brought in between $1500 and $5000.
The Inner Wheel Club made up of wives of Rotarians held a White Elephant
sale for few of those years as guests ate pancakes and resulted in
increasing the amount raised to the $5000 figure. The cost for the
breakfast remains at $3.00 per ticket since its inception.
Here are some scenes from the past:
Click on photos for full view
C
Here is a typical summary of the
Pancake Breakfast event and results (Dated December 10, 2003)
The Rotary Club of Mission
Viejo held its annual Pancake Breakfast event on October 12 this year to
raise funds for students of Esperanza School in Mission Viejo.
On December 9, 2003 we
presented two checks to the school’s representatives as follows: $2,100 to
Esperanza PTA presented to Karen Tagawa - President of Esperanza PTA; $400
to Esperanza ASB presented to Karen Whelan - FUTURES Program Teacher. Dr.
Ron Gray - Principal, Special Programs was also at our meeting for this
presentation. According to Dr. Gray, the funds raised this year will be used
for:
PTA
1. Fund transportation to all Special Olympics events (3 to 4) for group
sizes ranging from 6 to 18
2. Fund all special olympics entry fees for students in the above events
3. Provide for 2 special assemblies (story teller, musicians) for entire
student body
FUTURES
1. Equip 2 classroom kitchens with basic supplies for student use as they
learn to prepare meals for themselves.
Our Rotary club has been contributing time, talent,
and treasure to this event for over 15 years. We have helped many students
and their families to experience some important, meaningful life goals and
achievements because of this tremendous team effort. A few of these
accomplishments were relayed to me by Dr. Gray:
1. Over the last 15 years or so Rotary has covered expenses so that more
than 150 students have been able to enjoy special olympics events.
2. Over the last 15 years or so, Rotary has provided the money to pay for
buses to get these students to their events located throughout Orange and LA
Counties. With an average of 4 trips per year, this is 60 funded trips.
3. For the last 5 years, any $ not needed for special olympics expenses has
directly benefitted students with special assemblies or sponsored dances.
In this example of the "Circle of Life" concept, we
should all be proud of our involvement in this great event, be
enthused by the appreciation of the school staff and families,
and most importantly be uplifted by the smiles on the faces of
the students who ultimately "win" in part because of our willingness to
help! This is the type of energy which comes back to us when we contribute,
thereby increasing our capabilities to continue to make a positive
difference in this life. (Of course, helping to flip pancakes and sausages -
or at least sample the goods - with the camaraderie of fellow Rotarians
ain’t bad either!!)
One final important note: A special Thanks goes out
to all of you who came to help us on the day of the event, and to my fellow
committee members: Christi Matthews, Jerry Jarvis, and Steve Mugg.
Bob Duffy, Esperanza Pancake Breakfast Chairman |
Rotary
Club of Mission Viejo
