Part 2
The story culminated last week with the establishment of the Rotary Club of Emmett Foundation, Inc., in 2006. This organization is a group of eight dedicated Emmett Rotarians in good standing who formed the board, with Perry Jenkins serving as President from 2006 to 2017. He held the presidency for 11 years and also oversaw the Rotary Youth Auction.
The primary goal of the Foundation is to solicit goods and services for the annual Rotary Youth Benefit Dinner and Auction, to invest and manage all funds, and to allocate those funds to youth organizations. Additionally, it manages and distributes funds received from Gem Youth Services for scholarships, along with any other donations designated for scholarships. The Foundation's board determines the total scholarship amount annually, while the scholarship committee selects recipients from Emmett and the surrounding areas each year.
The Foundation expresses sincere gratitude to all local businesses and residents who have supported this cause over the years. The Rotary Club of Emmett Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders and changemakers. By investing in the education of motivated young individuals who are also actively engaged in their communities, the Foundation aims to inspire a culture of giving back and personal growth.
The tradition continued over the next eight years, with auctions raising between $12,000 and up to $20,000 annually. According to archival information, approximately $15,000 was raised in 2011 from 80 bidders during the Rotary Youth Auction held at the high school, allowing the Foundation to grant $14,000 to 27 youth groups.
An article from the Messenger Index, dated March 28, 2012, noted, “For 40 years, the community in Gem County has bought auctioned items, raising funds for local youth. During those years, the Rotary Youth Auction has auctioned items donated by local businesses and residents, yielding about $360,000 for Gem County youth organizations.”
The 2012 auction began with great promise, taking place on Friday, April 27, at 6 PM at the EHS. It featured over 200 donated items, including a jet boat trip, haircuts, beauty products, books, flowers, homemade baked goods (including the famous cinnamon rolls), and numerous silent auction items. Raffle prizes included a $300 Emmett Chamber shopping spree, a 46-inch flat-screen TV, and an Amazon Kindle. Ultimately, only $15,000 was raised from 85 bidders, with 19 organizations sharing about $12,000. Beneficiaries included the Junior National Young Leaders Conference, Gem Boise 4-H Leaders Council, the Emmett Community Playhouse, and several others. The annual Youth Appreciation Day followed on Saturday, April 28, at the Gem Island Sports Complex. Perry Jenkins reflected that the year they reached $20,000 was when a Corvette sold for $8,000, attracting a significant number of Rotarians among the bidders.
In 2012, Tim Fleming joined the Emmett Rotary Club and became Club President in 2014-2015. He recognized the need to alter the auction format to better meet the requests of youth groups and ensure additional funds were available for unforeseen needs. He proposed revamping the Youth Benefit Auction to create a must-attend event, incorporating dinner, a dessert auction, and a silent auction, along with the live auction. The auction committee embraced these ideas, allowing local businesses to sponsor tables in exchange for dinner tickets, free bucket draw tickets, drink tickets, and advertising in the Messenger Index and on social media. The committee aimed to create a light-hearted, enjoyable atmosphere, and with a tropical island theme, decorations included pink flamingos wearing flip-flops, pink cups with the name and date of the auction to take home as souvenirs, and entertainment of hula dancers performing island dances, and tropical island music playing until the auction started. A roasted pig and tropical sides were served for dinner. The desserts provided and crafted by the high school culinary students were auctioned first and went quite high as there were not enough desserts for every table, and if you wanted dessert for your table, you had to bid high. The event was named Flip Flops & Flamingos Rotary Youth Benefit Dinner and Auction. The event was a success, raising enough money to cover expenses and fully fund 27 youth groups, totaling approximately $25,000.
However, challenges arose when holding the benefit dinner auction at the high school, primarily due to space limitations and restrictions on alcohol. In the following years, the event was relocated to the city park inside large enclosed tents, with each year featuring a different sub-theme while maintaining the main theme. For example, in 2016, it was “Flip Flops and Flamingos Presents Superheroes & Villains,” while in 2017, it was “Flip Flops and Flamingos Presents Mardi Gras.” Also added was the “flock of flamingos” placed in front of businesses that sponsored tables for the benefit dinner auction that year, which is still being done to this day. Now you know the “deal” with the flamingos. Be sure to thank the businesses for supporting the youth in Gem County.
In 2018, the event moved to the 4-H building at the fairgrounds, but the building had to be cleaned first. With the assistance of the fire department, it was hosed down with the fire truck’s powerful sprayer hose, and the water was swept out. That year, the theme was: "Flip Flops and Flamingos Presents Back to the 50s with Elvis." An Elvis impersonator was hired to entertain guests, and there were several life-sized cutouts set around for decorations that ended up being included in the auction later that evening.
Remember that vision that Tim Fleming had about creating a fund for unforeseen needs, even though this was not the intention, because guess what happened next - 2020 happened with COVID, and no large gatherings were allowed, but with proper management of funds, the Foundation was still able to fund many of the requests.
The event continued to flourish, but space constraints persisted, and it is remarkable that in just ten years, the number of auction table sponsors doubled, significantly increasing funds raised for youth groups. Tim Fleming's contributions have had a lasting impact on the community. In 2023, combined efforts raised nearly $93,000 before expenses, benefiting 23 youth groups with over $38,500 in requested funds.
At the 52nd Annual Flip Flops & Flamingos Rotary Youth Benefit Dinner and Auction in 2025, the Rotary Club of Emmett Foundation achieved a record $68,168 in grants and scholarships. These funds supported 30 Gem County youth organizations and provided scholarships to eight graduating seniors. Since 2016, the Foundation has distributed over $633,924 in grants and scholarships to local youth.
The Flip Flops & Flamingos Youth Benefit Dinner and Auction has become a beloved tradition, relying on the collective effort of Emmett Rotarians volunteering countless hours and months of preparation to raise funds for Gem County youth.
Community support enables youth participants to concentrate on growth, competition, and service rather than financial burdens. In return, these young individuals contribute by volunteering at events such as Rake Up Emmett, Youth Appreciation Day, Memorial Day flag placements for veterans, the Rodeo, and other service projects.
Instead of having youth organizations repeatedly approach local businesses, the Rotary Club has created a single annual opportunity for community support. Through table sponsorships and donations of cash, merchandise, gift certificates, or auction items, businesses can contribute meaningfully and efficiently. This streamlined approach minimizes donor fatigue and ensures fair support for youth programs. The Rotary Club of Emmett Foundation's annual Flip Flops & Flamingos Youth Benefit Dinner and Auction has become a cornerstone event in Gem County, celebrating its 53rd year in 2026 this cherished tradition has evolved over the decades, yet its mission remains steadfast: to support local youth organizations through community generosity.
The venue will change again for the 53rd Annual Flip Flops & Flamingos Presents Hawaiian Style Youth Benefit Dinner & Auction, which is scheduled at the Roadhouse at the Mill on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Registration begins at 4 PM, allowing attendees to browse silent and live auction items, prepare their phones (make sure they are charged), and connect with friends. Table sponsorships and dinner tickets are still available. For inquiries regarding the Benefit Auction, contact Josh Wester at (208) 371-3449 or Allison Hatzenbuhler at (408) 891-1441.
Youth groups have been actively selling raffle tickets, with half of the proceeds benefiting their respective organizations. Raffle tickets cost $1 each, with prizes including a DeWALT 52-inch 6-drawer tool chest with a 52-inch 8-drawer tool cabinet from D&B Supply, a $1,000 fuel card from Wild Willy’s, and a $300 gift certificate from Cowboys Chophouse. Raffle drawings will occur during the evening festivities. Questions about raffle tickets can be directed to John Buck at (208) 369-1785.
Rest assured, your bids at the Annual Flip Flops & Flamingos Youth Benefit Dinner & Auction will support youth groups in Gem County. This year, there are over 23 funding requests totaling over $65,000. We certainly have our work cut out for us. As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”