Nick's Rotary Year: Chili Success

It is difficult to predict how many people will come to a one-time fundraiser in a foreign country where fundraisers are not the most popular thing and where the food you are serving is a spicy American dish that most people have never tried before. Thus, the group of us that were organizing were afraid no one would come even though we had worked very hard in advertising: telling everyone we knew, putting up posters all over campus, and going door to door in the dorms trying to convince people to come. The night before we cooked more chili than I have ever seen. A short list of the ingredients will illustrate: 13 kilos of ground beef, 52 red and green peppers, 26 large onions, 20 carrots, 2 head of celery, 42 (28oz) cans of tomatoes, 6 cans of tomato paste, 42 cans of chili beans, 6 cups of hot chili powder, etc. We had three jumbo pots and a bunch of little hot plates to cook on. We lined them up so that each pot sat on two of the hot plates. You work with what you've got. It was a big production but we did it.

The next night, we fed around 200 people. The fundraiser was a huge success. The line was all the way out the door and into the street. There was music, a raffle, dancing, etc. Everyone remarked how good of a time it was and to my eternal satisfaction they said the chili was delicious. Some of the members of my Rotary Club here in Haifa came as well as administrators in the International School. Those of us that helped organize were really astounded. So many people helped set up and take down and nearly all of the chili was eaten. The best part about it was the presence of many of the Nitsan members who came and ate and danced. And, in the end, we raised way more money than we had hoped. With the help of the Rotary Clubs back home, who donated all of the advertising and food costs, everything we made could go towards the cause. In addition, through the generosity of my Rotary Club, Moriah, and the attendance of so many people, we were able to raise $4,250. This money will go towards the completion of an extra room at Nitsan so that the cramped center can have more space for their activities. We all fell that the fundraiser was a truly wonderful way to end our year in Haifa. Thank you to all who donated or supported us in any way.