Rotary donates event proceeds to Foster Champs

Maple Valley Rotary held their annual “A Taste of the Valley” event last July 30

By Rebecca Gourley • August 5, 2015 3:54 pm
Dace Anderson and Arielle Young of Dace’s Rock ‘N’ More Music Academy perform for the wine-tasting crowd at Maple Valley Rotary’s A Taste of the Valley event.
Dace Anderson and Arielle Young of Dace’s Rock ‘N’ More Music Academy perform for the wine-tasting crowd at Maple Valley Rotary’s A Taste of the Valley event.

Maple Valley Rotary held their annual “A Taste of the Valley” event last July 30.

The evening was full of wine tasting, food sampling, spirits and live music.

Each year the Maple Valley chapter of the Rotary chooses one local nonprofit or organization to benefit from the event’s ticket sales. For the last two, they have chosen Foster Champs of Maple Valley.

Foster Champs is run by Kim Emmons, who is a foster parent herself. Emmons said the group helps bridge the money gap between what the state funds and what is often considered extra activities for kids.

She said that includes funds for high school dances, getting a driver’s license, extracurriculars, sports, etc.

The Rotary’s event benefited the group’s duffle bag program.

Emmons said when a foster child is placed into a home, they often arrive with only the clothes on their back. The duffle bags are filled with clothes, toiletries, shoes, a blanket, a flashlight and a stuffed animal or comfort item. The average cost of a filled duffle bag is about $200 according to the Rotary’s website for the event.

The Rotary is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The club’s calendar is full of events throughout the year, including their annual auction on Nov. 7 at Green River Community College.