Grove Rotary Shrimpfest tickets available

A few tickets are still available for Grove Rotary’s Shrimpfest 2023, the club’s community fundraiser scheduled for Friday, July 14, at Shangri-La Hotel on Monkey Island. Tickets may be purchased online at groverotary.org. Deadline for ticket purchase is Tuesday, July 11.

The annual LobsterFest fundraiser was “downsized” to a shrimp boil this year, due to space considerations when the Grove Civic Center, its traditional venue, was sold. However, the fun and bidding opportunities at ShrimpFest are anything but downsized, says Rotarian Jamie Johnson, chair of the event. 

“We are expecting the same spirited auctions, both silent and live, as we had with LobsterFest,” Johnson said. 

“For the live auction, we’ll be offering 22 luxurious packages for everyone to fight over,” she said. “Items range from a golf extravaganza at The Battlefield course at Shangri-La, complete with your new bag of Titleist clubs, to a sunset yacht cruise for 24 of your closest friends.”

The silent auction is just as tempting as ever, with nearly 70 items donated, Johnson said. Examples include four nights at Branson Falls Resort, Elk River raft trip for six people, pickleball lessons at Shangri-La, giant water inflatables, two nights at Candlewyck Inn, and much more.

“We appreciate all the generous donors of these amazing auction items,” Johnson said. “We are so fortunate to live in a community of such giving people and businesses.” 

Johnson also recognized the sponsors of the fundraiser, each of whom made significant financial donations to help underwrite the cost of the event. The Title Sponsor is Bank of Grand Lake, which has supported the fundraiser for many years. 

Presenting Sponsors are Crossland Construction, Jay Hatfield Motorsports of Joplin, and Shangri-La Resort. Others are John Vance Auto Group, Major Sponsor; Local Bank and Stuart and Kimberly Hayden, Sustaining Sponsors; and BancFirst, Partner Sponsor.

Proceeds from the annual fundraiser are the major source of Grove Rotary scholarships and community grants. The club awards three college and three vocational scholarships each year.  Grants totaling more than $80,000 were presented to 32 community organizations last year.