While Rotary Club of Sedona’s May 2 Great Sedona Chili Cook-Off was cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CCO sponsors decided to donate anyway to help the community. Sponsorship Chair Holli Ploog, said the club raised about $10,000 or 50% of the sponsorship budget prior to the cancellation of the event. The club then wrote to sponsors requesting permission to retain their financial contribution to support local non-profits during the pandemic.

At the same time, the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) created the Sedona/Verde Valley COVID-19 Community Response Fund, matching dollar for dollar of donations received. “We agreed to contribute our entire sponsorship funding to ACF and were therefore able to leverage our $10,000 into $20,000,” said Holli. “The gift will support the Sedona Food Bank, the Verde Valley Caregivers, Manzanita Outreach and other worthwhile organizations on the front line of supplying food and necessities to local families in need.”

The club also made an additional contribution in the way of grocery gift cards to patrons of St. Andrews dinners in lieu of providing our regular quarterly supper.

The club deeply appreciates sponsors’ support of the Rotary Club of Sedona and in making a difference in their community: Bailor Insurance, Draxler Insurance, Her in Arizona LLC, Kincaid Financial Advisors, Northern Arizona Healthcare Foundation, Ralston Construction, Sedona Dental Arts, Sedona Real Inn, Sedona Smiles, Stormaster, Shrader & Martinez Construction, The Artist’s Kitchen Shop, and David and Isabel Simmer.