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Slicker and Rotary Club sell out Ukraine fundraiser

Slicker, Rotary Club sell out Ukraine fundraiser

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Events.

CORTEZ – It was another big success for the effort to raise money for the people of Ukraine as Bob Slicker, owner of Slicker’s Eatery, sold out his latest fundraising event while also celebrating his 60th birthday.

The Trolley for Peace on Aug. 13 traveled to four local restaurants and bars. For a ticket price of $75, riders rode two trolleys that made stops at R.J. Gators, Slicker’s Eatery, Clancy’s Irish Pub and 88 Live Piano Bar. In addition to the funds raised from the price of the trip, each bar had a raffle giveaway to help raise even more money for the war relief effort in Ukraine.

“After the last event, the Concert for Peace, I thought gosh, what’s the next thing we’re going to do,” Slicker said. “I knew my birthday was coming up. Today is actually my 60th birthday and I always like to do some sort of thing for charity on my birthday and this year it happened to coincide with our campaign for Ukraine.”

Slicker says this effort wouldn’t be possible without the help of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island. After meeting the Rotary members when they held a meeting at Slicker’s Eatery earlier this year, the relationship quickly grew into an effort that has sent tens of thousands of dollars to assist in relief efforts in Ukraine. Desperately needed items such as refrigerators, washing machines and medical supplies are being delivered to people who are living with virtually nothing in a war zone. Relationships with Rotary clubs in Poland and Ukraine make it possible to not only assure the funds are accounted for, but the supplies are able to be physically delivered where they are needed most.

Slicker recently visited Poland and Ukraine, meeting some of the people affected by the war firsthand.

“We visited flats where they have as many as seven people living in one apartment and they are allowed one shelf per flat in the communal refrigerators,” Slicker said. “Imagine having only one shelf in a fridge for an entire large family, but they are very grateful to even have that. We want to buy more fridges, more washers and dryers. We have a lot more to do.”

Slicker and Rotary Club sell out Ukraine fundraiser
Sixty-four people arrive at Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez via two trolleys for the Trolley for Peace Ukraine fundraising event. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

The Concert for Peace in June raised more than $50,000 and, while the totals are not yet in for the Trolley for Peace, Slicker expects this event to exceed $10,000 additional dollars, 100% of which will go to send supplies to the people of Ukraine. In addition to the multiple refugee centers they are working with, Slicker says they want to help provide some bulletproof vests to those in the most dangerous areas in addition to the refrigerators and other needed items.

AMI Rotary President Jim McDaniel echoed Slicker’s assessment that things in the region have been getting more difficult in recent weeks.

“We’re getting word that things are getting tougher over there from the president of the Rotary in Poland,” McDaniel said. “No matter what we do, we feel like it’s just not enough. We just want to do more.”

McDaniel just sent another $10,000 to the Poland Rotary to distribute supplies and the duo has no intentions of slowing down local fundraising efforts.

Slicker said plans for another Concert for Peace are in the works for early 2023. He also encourages anyone who wants to help to raise money to host their own homegrown efforts such as a party where guests donate to the relief effort or to donate privately with family and friends. For a QR code that allows you to donate directly to the Rotary, visit Slicker’s Eatery online or on Facebook.

Slicker, Rotary of AMI continue fundraising efforts for Ukraine

Slicker, Rotary of AMI continue fundraising efforts for Ukraine

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Community News, Cortez.

CORTEZ – A partnership between Slicker’s Eatery owner Bob Slicker and the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island to raise money to buy supplies for the people of Ukraine will continue into the foreseeable future.

The two joined forces after Rotary Club members had a meeting at Slicker’s Eatery and began to discuss ways of helping people affected by a war none of them ever wanted, but have no choice but to live through.

“I knew that if we didn’t do something, the news would stop showing it,” he said. “If you ask people around here today, they say they have to turn it off because it’s so hard to watch because they don’t know what they can do or how to help. For three weeks I prayed about how I could help like we do here after a hurricane.”

Slicker’s prayers were answered when he learned the club had Rotary partners close to the war zone in both Poland and Ukraine that could not only assist with moving the funds raised, but also physically transport purchased supplies directly into Ukraine where they are needed most.

“When you try to help people, you always wonder where the money is going,” he said. “The Rotary is very transparent and very reputable; every ‘i’ is dotted and ‘t’ is crossed.”

Some of the efforts of the Polish Rotarians assisting the AMI chapter include creating a make-shift hospital, setting up a refugee center for families, making much-needed supply runs, and purchasing washers, dryers and refrigerators.

“We visited flats where they have as many as seven people living in one apartment and they are allowed one shelf per flat in the communal refrigerators,” Slicker said. “Imagine having only one shelf in a fridge for an entire large family, but they are very grateful to even have that. We want to buy more fridges, more washers and dryers. We have a lot more to do.”

As he addressed the July 12 Rotary meeting, Slicker showed pictures he took on a recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, allowing everyone in attendance to see the people affected by the war and how it has changed their lives. Slicker said he asked just about everybody he spoke to the same questions, including whether or not they thought this war would actually happen or if it was just a show of strength by Putin that would not escalate into war.

“So many people had the same answer to that question,” he said. “We never thought he was crazy enough to go through with it.”

The Concert for Peace event held on the Island on June 12 raised over $50,000 for the Campaign for Ukraine. Shortly after that event, the members of the AMI Rotary Club sent $5,000 to benefit Ukrainians, which was matched by a Rotary District in New Hampshire (7870) for a total of $10,000. The Rotary Club of AMI and Slicker’s Eatery partnership has also released an additional $10,000 to President Wojtek Jankowski of the Rotary Club of Czestochowa, Poland. The clubs communicate regularly with those on the ground internationally and on the front lines using WhatsApp.

At the close of his presentation to the club members, Slicker announced the next event, a pub crawl through Cortez.

The event is planned to include a trolley ride to four local bars, Clancy’s, R.J. Gators, Slicker’s Eatery and Piano 88. The bar crawl is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 13 from 1-5 p.m. Each pub will also have a gift basket to be raffled with funds also going to the Ukraine relief effort. Raffle tickets can be purchased any time before the event at each location. Event tickets are $75, with at least $45 of each purchase going directly to the Rotary’s Ukraine fundraising efforts after expenses. For ticket information, call Debbie at 941-704-3294. Slicker hopes the event will raise around $12,000.

Another Concert for Peace is also being planned for this fall.

Campaign for Ukraine rocks the Center of AMI

Campaign for Ukraine rocks The Center

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Entertainment, Music.

ANNA MARIA – It was rock and roll for a great cause at The Center of Anna Maria Island, as hundreds of people gathered to listen to live music and raise money for the people of Ukraine.

The event was the brainchild of Bob Slicker, owner of Slicker’s Eatery in Cortez and emcee of the evening’s festivities. Along with the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island and dozens of local business owners and sponsors, the June 12 event drew a crowd.

“The war started and I was talking to my daughter and my girlfriend and I said we have to do something, this is horrible,” Slicker said. “I kept thinking about it and I thought, gee, they’re going to take this off the news pretty soon because people don’t want to watch war when they can’t help. I knew we had to do something.”

It was around that same time that the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island began meeting at Slicker’s Eatery. Slicker did some research on the Rotary and saw that there are Rotary Clubs in countries around the world, including Ukraine and nearby countries such as Poland. He approached the Rotary members right away, proposing they join together to hold a fundraising event. With Slicker’s ties to the community and friendships with many Island business owners and the Rotary’s ability to process payments and distribute funds through its partners in eastern Europe, a lot could be done, but more importantly, the funds could be distributed to a war zone, which would otherwise be very difficult. 

Campaign for Ukraine rocks the Center of AMI
A large crowd gathered at The Center of Anna Maria Island for the Campaign for Ukraine Concert for Peace charity fundraiser event. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

Slicker proposed the plan to the Rotary and committed to assisting them for at least one year. During their first meeting, a Rotary Club in New England offered to match the first $5,000 raised, which was done before the Campaign for Ukraine event even took place. This allowed the partnership to send $10,000 before any funds were raised at the concert.

“The Rotary has a Zoom meeting every two weeks which they allow me to sit in on even though I’m not a Rotarian. They break down how they’re allocating the money and where all the money is going to,” Slicker said. “This is boots on the ground – medical hospitals, medical vans, medical supplies, refugee centers and other places where the need is greatest.”

Slicker says the needs are constantly changing since it’s a war and therefore unpredictable. With 50 to 200 soldiers being killed in battle every day, the danger and hardship won’t dissipate anytime soon. He also said the Rotary Clubs have partnered with Ukrainian businesses to help stimulate their business and try to negate at least a little bit of the economic impact of the war. 

Revenue from the Campaign for Ukraine concert was generated through sponsors, many of whom donated valuable prizes to be auctioned off with 100% of the proceeds going to the people of Ukraine. While the concert was free, there was plenty of food and drinks to be purchased, helping to raise even more money. The musicians, Scotty McCoghney, Poppa Grump and Twinkle and Rock Soul Radio as well as the small army of people tending the booths and tables all volunteered their time and services, leaving virtually no overhead costs. 

Campaign for Ukraine rocks the Center of AMI
Poppa Grump entertains the crowd at the Campaign for Ukraine Concert for Peace fundraiser at The Center of Anna Maria Island. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“Rotary is a five-star charity, we give out everything we take in,” said Jim McDaniel, president-elect of the Rotary Club of Anna Maria Island and director of development for The Center of Anna Maria Island. “At The Center, we’re going to be doing some things with the environment and the Ukrainian effort that will tie The Center in, so it’s great for everybody.” 

McDaniel spoke of a particular Rotary member in Poland who personally drives supplies into the Ukrainian war zone. This man spoke with Rotary Club of AMI members including McDaniel on multiple Zoom calls, giving them first-hand insight into how funds raised are hitting the ground and moving to where they are needed most. 

Anyone interested in helping with the fundraising effort can donate online or email Molly@SlickersEatery.com. 

Mystery tour raises money for Ukrainians

Mystery tour raises money for Ukrainians

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Longboat Key.

LONGBOAT KEY – Women from the Cedars Tennis Resort & Club embarked on a mystery tour aboard the Anna Maria Island Privateer’s parade vessel, the Skullywag, on April Fools’ Day, but they had a serious mission in mind.

Organized by Canadian resident and part-time Bradenton Beach resident Karen MacKay, the mystery tour drew 28 participants, collecting donations for the American Red Cross to help support Ukrainians impacted by the recent and ongoing Russian invasion of their homeland. MacKay’s grandparents emigrated from Ukraine to Canada in 1918.

Mystery tour raises money for Ukrainians
Karen MacKay, left, organized the mystery tour with help from the AMI Privateers. – Karen MacKay | Submitted

“The pirate ship arrived at the tennis resort playing loud music from the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie and the ladies’ mouths dropped in surprise. Most of them guessed we were going somewhere in golf carts, walking to the beach or doing nothing at all because it was April Fools’ Day,” MacKay said.

“Cheap wine and beer were served and our destination was the Anna Maria City Pier, where we had 45 minutes to explore. The ladies were thrilled and we loved watching the smiling faces on the adults and kids as we rode by in the Skullywag and waved. The most important thing for me was to give back to the Ukrainians and the bonus was we had fun doing it,” MacKay said.

MacKay encourages others to donate to the American Red Cross in support of the war-impacted Ukrainians.