For the second consecutive year, the Hopkinsville Rotary Auction raised more than half a million dollars to fund college scholarships and grants for community projects.
The final tally when the weeklong auction concluded late Saturday night at the Memorial Building was $523,671, auction chairman Brandon Killebrew announced. The effort was just shy of the 2022 auction, which raised $536,335 and smashed the previous record of nearly $400,000 in 2021.
The annual auction, established in 1951, relies on three sources of revenue — the main auction, concessions and cash donations. Killebrew said Rotarians sold 762 auction items for a total of $122,722, while the Rotary Diner and Sweet Shop brought in $37,059.86 and donors to the Hour Club and Goat Club gave $363,889.69.
The Hour Club’s highest level of giving, for gifts of $20,000, had three donors: Jennie Stuart Health, Sue Badgett and a gift in memory of Sarah and Selden Trimble.
Next year’s auction chairman will be Kelly Gates. Killebrew will be the club president.
- RELATED: Read Hoptown Chronicle’s “Faces of the Auction” series.
Auction Tally
The following totals reflect the money raised through the main auction, Rotary Diner and Sweet Shop, and the Hour Club and Goat Club.
| Monday | $124,159.50 |
| Tuesday | $60,120.50 |
| Wednesday | $78,226.00 |
| Thursday | $52,090.93 |
| Friday | $33,519.50 |
| Saturday | $175,555.12 |
| Grand Total | $523,671.55 |
Rotary Foundation Grants
In 2021, the auction’s fundraising power spurred the creation of the Hopkinsville Rotary Foundation, which makes grants to programs that benefit the community. This week’s distributions have included:
Monday
- $5,000 for educational programs at Jeffers Bend
- $3,500 for special needs swimming lessons and equipment at Hopkinsville YMCA
- $100,000 for an inclusive playground on Pardue Lane
Tuesday
- $5,000 for the Christian County Literacy Council to assist with publishing a book for local children that will be dedicated in memory of Carolyn “Mrs. Pickle” Haddock — a long-time supporter of the Rotary Auction
- $15,000 to the Pennyroyal Arts Council for youth camps and arts programming
Wednesday
- $8,000 to establish EarlyAct clubs at Crofton, South Christian, Indian Hills and Pembroke elementary schools
- $12,000 to Gateway Academy to renew its support of the “Industry All Stars” programming
Thursday
- $5,000 to the Christian County Agri Business Association for the Rotary Impact Agriculture pathway
- 25,000 to the Christian County and Hopkinsville high school bands, to be split equally between the programs, to upgrade musical instruments
Friday
- $5,000 to Men2Be
- $11,000 to Salvation Army for kids camp
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.
