The Rotary Club of South Kitsap has announced a Mardi Gras themed Casino Night to be called the “Bay Street Bash.” The event is set for Saturday Feb. 18 at the Port Orchard Pavilion, located at 701 Bay Street. The event, benefiting the South Kitsap Rotary Foundation, begins at 6 p.m.

“The Rotary Club of South Kitsap is actively involved in local projects and causes; such as park construction, Helpline and other non-profits, as well as exchange programs and scholarships for area students,” said Kyle Morkert, president. “However, our foundation also participates in international projects such as feeding programs, disaster relief, and a more recent mission, helping Kenyan villages with clean water and sanitation.” read more »

The South Kitsap Helpline announces the agency’s officers for its board of directors. Board co-presidents are Kareen Stockton and Gary Lindstrom co-presidents; Don Cheney, vice president; Danny Brown, treasurer; and Rayanne Brown, secretary.

With help from the community, the South Kitsap Helpline provides groceries and other critical services to more than 50,000 children, adults and senior citizens in crisis annually. For more information, call (360) 876-4089 or visit the web site at wwww.skhelpline.org.

Greer Gates, 14 years old, makes and sells jewelry to raise money for cancer research at the University of Washington Medical Center. Her 2011 sales were double her goal and generated more than $10,600.00 in total to UWMC. The money goes to support research and prevention of Ovarian and Breast Cancer led by Dr. Elizabeth Swisher. read more »

Kitsap Bank presented $30,000 in donations to three Washington Main Street partners as part of the bank’s annual Community Partner Program commitments. The donations fall under the Main Street Tax Incentive Program, which provides B&O tax credits for businesses who invest in downtown revitalization efforts, including economic development activities, designed to support and promote the local small business community. read more »

When Navy Federal Credit Union built its new facility in Silverdale, it decided to offer its not-so-old office furniture and equipment to local not-for-profit organizations. Several organizations benefited from its generosity including Holly Ridge Center, which has been providing neurodevelopmental services to children from birth to three, and employment services to adults with special needs for over 40 years.

Thanks to several members of a Navy submarine crew at Bangor, who offered brain and brawn to help move the furniture to its new location, Holly Ridge was able to take advantage of the gift. read more »

The Silverdale-based Maasai Women’s Education and Empowerment Program, also known by its acronym MWEEP, was awarded “The Kitsap Peninsula Global Humanitarian Award” at the 2011 RESULTS Benefit Luncheon, which was held on Dec. 4 at the Kitsap Convention Center in Bremerton. Receiving the award in a ceremony attended by nearly 200 people was Barb Stark, board president of MWEEP-USA.

The Kitsap Peninsula Global Humanitarian Award was instituted by the Kitsap chapters of RESULTS in 2009 to honor outstanding contributions to the alleviation of hunger and poverty that are being made by individuals and organizations in our community. read more »

The Point Casino, located on the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe reservation near Kingston, announced the final tally from its annual fundraising drive. Over the past year, $30,000 has been raised for the local chapter of the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Casino staff presented a check to representatives from the ADA on Nov. 21.

The 2011 fundraising campaign raised almost a third more than the previous year’s drive. “Our employees really rose to the occasion for this fundraising event,” said Leo Culloo, general manager of the casino. read more »

The American Red Cross Serving King & Kitsap Counties is looking for ordinary individuals who have performed extraordinary deeds.

On March 1, 2012, the Red Cross will present awards to local heroes in Kitsap and North Mason counties who saved lives, exemplified the Red Cross mission or made significant, positive differences in their communities in the areas of emergency response, preparedness and prevention. read more »

Soroptimist International of Greater Bremerton Area is collaborating with several local organizations to conduct a week of human trafficking awareness activities in Kitsap County. The inaugural event, called Break Free Kitsap, will take place January 23-29. “We are excited to be spearheading this effort with Scarlet Road and Not for Sale Kitsap to help raise awareness about human trafficking,” says Bremerton Soroptimist president-elect, Jessica Guidry. read more »