On Feb. 10, beginning at 10 a.m., the Rotary Club of Mount Pleasant will welcome students from across the Lowcountry for the 39th annual soccer classic at the Wando High School stadium. “Wando athletic director, Mark Buchman, has been very helpful in the last few years to make this a great event,” said Pat O’Brien, former club president and devoted member for over 30 years. “We have representation from Myrtle Beach and a team from Greenwood coming down for their second year.” More information on the event can be found on the club’s website at mprotary.org.
For O’Brien, Rotary Club membership has helped him achieve his vision for how he would contribute to the Mount Pleasant community. “When I moved to Mount Pleasant in 2015, I wanted to find an energized, fun club that is active both in service projects and large enough that the financial contribution is as meaningful as the service projects,” he shared. “I was lucky enough to find the ideal match for me in the Rotary Club of Mount Pleasant.”
The annual Soccer Classic serves as Rotary's major fundraiser and the kick-off to the high school soccer season.
The Rotary Club is an international organization with an active local club in Mount Pleasant boasting more than 80 members. “Rotary is probably the largest civic organization in the world,” according to O’Brien. “Rotary is represented in more countries than the United Nations.”
With a club motto of “service above self,” the Rotary Club is committed to making a worldwide impact. From eradicating polio, to providing clean water in impoverished nations, to funding a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, the Rotary Club is a global leader in service. There are over 46,000 member clubs worldwide, with a membership of 1.4 million individuals. Joining the Mount Pleasant Rotary Club means joining over a million other world leaders with a heart for making a difference.
The Mount Pleasant Rotary Club was chartered in 1977. The founding members thought it was important to partner with local high schools by providing scholarships to students, something the club still does to this day, in addition to other local initiatives. “We give shoes to kids in the Lowcountry through our Happy Feet initiative,” described O’Brien. “We give dictionaries to every third grader in the Mount Pleasant area, and our members partner with Wando High School to grade presentations from senior students.”
Fundraising events, including auctions, galas, and most recently a masquerade party, to raise money that is distributed to local organizations that directly help community members in need. “We have given over $70,000 annually to local charities,” said O’Brien. The club’s annual soccer classic is a key fundraiser for the club, with plenty of opportunities for the community to contribute. “We raise money by getting sponsors, who are recognized at the event on the programs and on t-shirts that the kids get,” O’Brien said. “There’s always an opportunity for sponsorship. The sponsorship money pays for the event but also goes to fund our charity initiatives.”
Those interested in Rotary Club membership, sponsoring the soccer classic, or donating to the organization’s service initiatives can contact Pat O’Brien at patob3401@gmail.com.
