ANNA MARIA – It was rock and roll for a great cause at The Center of Anna Maria Island, as hundreds of people gathered to listen to live music and raise money for the people of Ukraine.
The event was the brainchild of Bob Slicker, owner of Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez and emcee of the evening’s festivities. Along with the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island and dozens of local business owners and sponsors, the June 12 event drew a crowd.
“The war started and I was talking to my daughter and my girlfriend and I said we have to do something, this is horrible,” Slicker said. “I kept thinking about it and I thought, gee, they’re going to take this off the news pretty soon because people don’t want to watch war when they can’t help. I knew we had to do something.”
It was around that same time that the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island began meeting at Slicker’s Eatery. Slicker did some research on the Rotary and saw that there are Rotary Clubs in countries around the world, including Ukraine and nearby countries such as Poland. He approached the Rotary members right away, proposing they join together to hold a fundraising event. With Slicker’s ties to the community and friendships with many Island business owners and the Rotary’s ability to process payments and distribute funds through its partners in eastern Europe, a lot could be done, but more importantly, the funds could be distributed to a war zone, which would otherwise be very difficult.
Slicker proposed the plan to the Rotary and committed to assisting them for at least one year. During their first meeting, a Rotary Club in New England offered to match the first $5,000 raised, which was done before the Campaign for Ukraine event even took place. This allowed the partnership to send $10,000 before any funds were raised at the concert.
“The Rotary has a Zoom meeting every two weeks which they allow me to sit in on even though I’m not a Rotarian. They break down how they’re allocating the money and where all the money is going to,” Slicker said. “This is boots on the ground – medical hospitals, medical vans, medical supplies, refugee centers and other places where the need is greatest.”
Slicker says the needs are constantly changing since it’s a war and therefore unpredictable. With 50 to 200 soldiers being killed in battle every day, the danger and hardship won’t dissipate anytime soon. He also said the Rotary Clubs have partnered with Ukrainian businesses to help stimulate their business and try to negate at least a little bit of the economic impact of the war.
Revenue from the Campaign for Ukraine concert was generated through sponsors, many of whom donated valuable prizes to be auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds going to the people of Ukraine. While the concert was free, there was plenty of food and drinks to be purchased, helping to raise even more money. The musicians, Scotty McCoghney, Poppa Grump and Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio as well as the small army of people tending the booths and tables all volunteered their time and services, leaving virtually no overhead costs.
“Rotary is a five-star charity, we give out everything we take in,” said Jim McDaniel, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island and director of development for The Center of Anna Maria Island. “At The Center, we’re going to be doing some things with the environment and the Ukrainian effort that will tie The Center in, so it’s great for everybody.”
McDaniel spoke of a particular Rotary member in Poland who personally drives supplies into the Ukrainian war zone. This man spoke with Rotary Club of AMI members including McDaniel on multiple Zoom calls, giving them first-hand insight into how funds raised are hitting the ground and moving to where they are needed most.
Anyone interested in helping with the fundraising effort can donate online or email Molly@SlickersEatery.com.
