ROTARY fund-raising in the Algarve hit a high note last Saturday, when the Silves Club attracted 155 people to its first ever Jazz Spectacular. Guests were welcomed by Silves Rotary President, Hélio Cartaxo, who explained that this was the centenary year of Rotary International and spoke of aims of the organisation.
Jazz aficionados and those who simply love good music supported the money-raising activity and enjoyed an evening that included a raffle, auction, buffet and, of course, jazz with the New Orleans Jazz Band. The music was of the finest quality and the evening ended with a superb session of jazz and an impromptu New Orleans-style brolly parade. The Fábrica do Inglês in Silves proved the ideal venue, with first class acoustics, food and service.
Thanks to the generosity of a group of artists and their agent Luís Vasconcelos, 410 euros were raised from the auctioning of five oil paintings, as well as an embroidered table cloth and a bottle of Nova Vida wine, donated by Sir Cliff Richard’s bodega.
On the night, 2,000 euros was raised for the Day Centre of São Marcos da Serra.
The Rotary Club of Silves would like to thank the three main sponsors who provided the services of the jazz band – The Resident, Fred Peeters Antiguidades in Messines, and Marco and Cláudia Figueiras of Tabu in Ferragudo. Thanks also to Fábrica do Inglês, Restaurante Portarade (Ferragudo), Senhora da Rocha Restaurante (Praia da Rocha), who donated vouchers for meals, optometrist Roy Carpenter, who donated a free eye test, and Smilers’ Bar (Carvoeiro), who also supported the event. Rotary is also indebted to the many who donated prizes to the raffle.
