The Jacksonville Rotary Club Foundation invites the community to attend the One Love Charity Gala, which will be held on Friday, February 8, 2019 at Hamilton’s. According to event chairperson Jenna Tucker, “We are adding a fresh twist to our annual Valentine’s event. In addition to supporting local charitable giving, the event will also present. the winner of our global fundraising competition between our Rotary youth clubs across Central Illinois.”

Tucker said, “We are excited to announce that The Longmeyer Band will be providing live music as entertainment for the event.  Jess Spradlin will be conducting our live auction and there will be a wide variety of items on the silent auction. We will have a $20 Golden Ticket raffle that allows the winner to have first choice from the silent auction items. We are doing a ‘Grub Grab’ which will allow those who participate the opportunity to leave with a gift card from area restaurants ranging in value from $15 to $50.”

Rotarian Gina Hayes said, “Every dollar raised for the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf will be matched through a Rotary Global Grant. Members of the Jacksonville community have conducted mission work at the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf and have witnessed the great needs of the children who live and receive their education at the Centre’s three campuses.”

Hayes continued, “The Jacksonville Interact Club, the Illinois College Rotaract Club, and Interact and Rotaract clubs from around our Rotary District are involved in this fundraising effort in the lead-up to the February 8 event. We have enlisted these youth clubs in a friendly competition that will result in the club with the highest fundraising total being named ‘Global Charity Ambassador’ at the event. The Interact and Rotaract clubs will be engaging in traditional and online fundraising in the coming weeks to support this important cause. We invite everyone to like our Facebook page to follow the competition between the Rotaract and Interact clubs.”

“The community can support the One Love Charity Gala in a variety of ways,” Tucker said. “Monetary donations by both businesses and individuals (through the Jacksonville Rotary Club Foundation) are tax deductible. We are seeking donations of gift baskets, gift certificates or products that can be auctioned in a silent or live auction. And of course, we hope that everyone will attend this exciting fundraising event.”

Tickets are $40 per person or $300 for a reserved table of eight. Advanced reservations are required. Tickets are available by visiting the Valentine page at jacksonvillerotary.org or e-mailing valentines@jacksonvillerotary.org.  ‘Heavy’ hor d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. The event is February 8 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the One Love Charity Gala can contact Tucker at (309) 657- 4354.