Dancing for a cause

Dear Editor:

The Roaring Fork Rotary/Club Rotario wishes to thank supporters of our eighth annual Festival of the Americas, held Sunday, Aug. 29, at Sopris Park in Carbondale.

From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., families dined on exotic cuisine and shopped for folkloric crafts as they enjoyed our children’s area, beer garden and live music from Ballet Folklorico “Herencia Mexicana,” Banda La Revuelta, Grupo Alba, Los Lunaticos, and Novillos Musical.

Despite a slow start, by 5 p.m. many were dancing, beer and food sales were going strong, and ultimately an estimated 2,500 valley residents attended. Sponsors included Alpine Bank and Wells Fargo Bank (Platinum), U.S. Bank and the town of Carbondale (Silver) and Karp Neu Hanlon, P.C. (Bronze). For the first time we fenced the park, and the $5 entry fee for ages 13 and up helped gross more than $12,000. Revenues will go to CMC scholarships for next May’s local Class of 2011 and to Rotary International’s campaign to eradicate the global scourge of polio.

Club Rotario was also proud to award the 2010 Jackie Morales Distinguished Awards for Community Service to Peter Westcott (educator), Junior Ortega (student), Jennifer Smith (professional) and Jim Coombs (volunteer). Each leader has given many hours to bring bicultural harmony and integration to the Roaring Fork Valley, and we salute their efforts.

Gabriela Berdeja

president, Roaring Fork Rotary/Club Rotario