Child eating cupcake

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Throws Monthly Birthday Parties to Celebrate the Children at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club

(Millsboro) (February 22, 2020) — The Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is a happening place on any given day, but on one Friday afternoon a month, the noise level and exuberance take on a whole new dimension when Long Neck Sunrise Rotarians arrive for a “Birthday Bash” with balloons, cupcakes, juice boxes and $25 VISA gift cards for those children having birthdays within that month. As part of its mission to change lives in the greater Long Neck community, the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been celebrating children at the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club with regular birthday parties every month from September to May since the fall of 2017.

Originally part of a district grant program procured by the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club to Celebrate the Lives of Youngsters at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club, the program now is being run with proceeds from the Club’s annual golf outing held in June each year at The Peninsula Golf Club.  There are currently 96 children attending the programs at the Oak Orchard Boys & Girls Club who have received or will be receiving their $25 gift card and balloon.  All children are treated to the cupcakes and juice boxes at each event.

“We are so grateful that the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been able to continue these birthday celebrations,“ noted Club Executive Director Erica Kennedy. “The children really look forward to having this special day and they love the icing.”

“Our partnership with the Oak Orchard Boys and Girls Club is an integral part of our community mission,” remarked Lucille Cavan, Chair of the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Youth Projects Committee.  “We are delighted to be able to make an impact on the lives of these young people, and even more delighted when the children recognize us outside of the Club.  We truly know we are spreading the good works of Rotary.”

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club has been working to support the youth of the Long Neck region for years. They have worked with the Boys & Girls Club on an annual MLB Pitch, Hit and Run Competition as well as the Birthday Bashes, provided dictionaries annually to the third graders attending Long Neck Elementary School and supported the annual book fair at Long Neck Elementary by supplying two free books to each child at the school.

 

Blowing out the candle on the cupcakeGroup of children celebrating birthdaysRotarians working at birthday party

 

Captions:

At Top:  Olivia W. enjoys her icing as Jace S looks on!Top left:

Above Left:  Khy’Jay Lucian T, Jace S, Marley W, Olivia W  and Daemon D. enjoying the Birthday Bash.

Above Middle: Alexandria A. gets ready to blow out a candle on her cupcake being lit by Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian Cathy Cardaneo, while fellow celebrators (from left to right) Isaiah C., Brooklyn D and Trenton P. look on

Above Right:  Rotarians prepare to award gift cards and balloons to children having birthdays that month. Students seated at table: Josiah L, Tyion L, Sophia R, Lilyana C.