LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Moraga Rotary event raises $33K for safety upgrades at Moraga schools


Enjoying "A Nite at the Races" are Ana Moon, MEF Communications Director; Bruce Burns, Superintendent of Moraga School District; Janelle Chng, Vice President, and Heather Davis, President, both of the Governing Board. Photo provided

The Moraga School District will be the beneficiary of more than $33,000 which was contributed by participants at the 18th Annual "A Nite at the Races," a March 7 Moraga Rotary Club dinner/auction fundraiser. All these funds are intended to enhance the safety of the students and faculty in the MSD. While the particular uses of the money have not been decided, it is possible that the amount can be increased by additional grants from within the Rotary District and International organizations, similar to the way $12,000 was raised in 2019 toward the purchase of radio communication devices for all teachers in MSD.

However, $2,230 of the funds raised will go to specific needs; participants donated money toward 24 classroom medical kits, seven exterior light fixtures, and five exterior signs, and this money may be spent immediately.

MSD Superintendent Bruce Burns spoke to the participants about the drive toward safety in local schools, and that no sources of funds are currently available for necessary improvements other than community contributions. The Moraga Education Foundation is very effective in raising large amounts, but all their funds go toward classroom education efforts. Also attending were Heather Davis, president and Janelle Chng, vice president, both of the MSD governing board, and many MEF officials, as well as parents who volunteer time at the schools.

In addition, $14,200 was raised for the Lumumba Children's Library in Goma, Congo, which will serve desperately poor children who have never held a book in their hands. It is an ongoing project of Moraga Rotary in partnership with Goma Tumaini Rotary Club in the Congo. Previously, more than $55,000 has been raised. The balance of the funds raised will be devoted to the several service projects conducted each year by Moraga Rotary.

Moraga Rotary is a 53-year-old service club within Rotary International, one of the five clubs in Lamorinda, and one of about 33,000 Rotary Clubs in about 200 countries. Regular meetings are held at noon on most Tuesdays at Michael's Restaurant in Moraga. If you are interested in information about Rotary, or would like to donate to these worthy causes, please contact moragarotary@gmail.com, visit moragarotary.com, or call Brian South, president-elect at (925) 260-2143.