Our community is truly the most wonderful place in the world! A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone—local merchants, businesses, individuals, donors, and sponsors—who stepped up to support us; you know who you are. We extend our warmest congratulations and deepest gratitude from the bottom of our hearts!
(Pictured L to R Bryan Hanson, Kelly Trout, KJ Mac KOOL 101.5) Photo Credit - CTH Photography
While the final figures are still being calculated, the Rotary Club of Emmett Foundation, Inc. is thrilled to announce that the 53rd Annual 2026 Flip Flops & Flamingos Benefit Dinner & Auction has raised over $90,000 before expenses!
For 53 years, this fundraising event has played a crucial role in supporting youth groups in Gem County. So far this year, we have received requests from 28 youth groups totaling more than $65,000, with more requests on the way; the board will meet soon to discuss funding these requests.
This year's event took place at the new venue, the Roadhouse at the Mill, which was a tremendous success, accommodating approximately 300 attendees who had a fantastic experience. Guests enjoyed the live auctioneers and the engaging banter from emcee KJ Mac, the local radio personality from KOOL 101.5 FM. It was delightful to read the descriptions of the silent auction items and appreciate the extra space to explore everything. Witnessing the old sawmill being repurposed instead of left to decay was truly uplifting. We also want to express our appreciation to all the Rotarians, youth groups, and volunteers who worked diligently to ensure the auction’s success, ensuring it flowed seamlessly and appeared flawless. Also, a huge thank you to Candy & Todd Coltrin, Idaho Pizza, & crew for a delicious steak dinner!
Congratulations to Our Raffle Winners:
- Kirk Knighton won the DeWalt Tool Chest from D&B Supply.
- Michael Gurney took home the $1,000 fuel card from Wild Willy’s.
- Kevin Darres won the $300 gift certificate from Cowboys Chophouse.
This year, the youth groups excelled by selling 8,000 tickets, of which $4,000 will be shared among the groups that participated in ticket sales. Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets, and a special shout-out to the generous donors of these prizes.
For any inquiries regarding the Benefit Auction, please contact Josh Wester at (208) 371-3449. If you’re interested in learning more about Rotary, we warmly invite you to join our meetings every Thursday at noon at Idaho Pizza on Hwy 52. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.emmettrotary.org/, like our Facebook page, Rotary Club of Emmett, email us at erffundapplication@gmail.com, or reach out to Ted Clemens - President at (208) 365-6625. Stop in for lunch to discover more about our organization, or bring your family to our monthly meeting on a Thursday at 6 PM, if the noon session doesn’t suit you. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for our next monthly meeting on Thursday, May 21, at 6 PM at Idaho Pizza—you won’t want to miss it!