The community is invited to join the Hershey Rotary Club for its 52nd annual fundraising dinner and auction on Saturday, April 9, at the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Drive, Hershey. All proceeds will benefit nonprofit organizations in the community.

The event, which will be held in the Chocolate Ballroom, will begin at 5 p.m. with registration and a social hour featuring hors d'oeuvres and the opening of the silent auction. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by a live auction at 7:30 p.m.

Silent auction items will include gift cards, a wine and cheese gift basket and a basket of Hershey historical memorabilia. "The Hershey Company donates several beautiful gift baskets of Hershey products," noted Steven Ginter, co-chair of the 2022 fundraising committee.

The winning bidders will be announced immediately following the live auction, which will be conducted by professional auctioneer Jay Ziegler, who volunteers his services for the evening.

Live auction items will include higher-ticket items. "A member has donated a long weekend at their lake house in Maine," Ginter noted. "We have a one-hour (tour) by the Hershey Trolley company. A local flooring company has donated a Turkish rug. The Hershey Volunteer Fire Department donates a kid's birthday party at the fire house." Aso offered will be a one-hour private airplane tour of Dauphin and Lancaster counties.

The Hershey Rotary Club annually presents grants to many local organizations, including the Hershey Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Mohler Senior Center, Hershey Volunteer Fire Department, Love INC, Hershey Area Playhouse, Cocoa Packs, Hershey Community Chorus, Hershey-Derry Township Historical Society, Hershey Public Library, Hershey Symphony Orchestra and local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The Hershey Rotary Club also supports youths through its Student of the Month program, Service Above Self Scholarships and International Youth Exchange program.

"Occasionally, we will (support) an organization like Harrisburg River Rescue, an all-volunteer organization that fire departments and police departments rely on," Ginter noted. "Outside the area, the board (recently) approved a grant of funds through Rotary International to support Ukrainian refugees."

Attendees at the event on April 9 will learn about the club's charitable efforts. "There will be video of our grant recipients explaining the impact of our donations on their organizations," Ginter shared.

For more information about purchasing tickets, donating auction items or sponsoring the event, visit http://www.hersheyrotary.org. A link to purchase tickets is also available at http://www.facebook.com/HersheyRotaryClub.

The Hershey Rotary Club generally meets at noon on Mondays at the Hershey Lodge, 325 University Drive, Hershey. Meetings are also livestreamed. Changes to the meeting venue are posted on the club's Facebook page and website.

"Anyone interested in learning more about Rotary is encouraged to come to a meeting and check it out," Ginter added. "We're always looking for people who want to serve our wonderful community."