On May 16, the Who’s Who of Lakewood gathered at McGavick Center at Clover Park Technical College to celebrate 70 years of the Lakewood Rotary Club. 

“For 70 years, the Lakewood Rotary Club has shown what’s possible when people come together with a shared purpose,” the evening’s program read. “From our very first pancake breakfast to the event you’re sitting in tonight, we have continually invested in the growth and well-being of our community.” 

Equally appreciative of Rotary members and non-Rotary members who have given back over the years, the celebration recognized the achievements of decades of service. 

The title of the evening was “Building Our Legacy.” According to the event’s fundraising chair and Rotary member, Stephanie Wilcox, this title was chosen to suggest both the past contributions of the Rotary Club and the promise of a future of continued energy, activity, and community support. 

“We were trying to tie everything together,” she said of the evening’s festivities, which included live music, food, drinks, a dessert dash, and live and silent auction items. 

The evening featured a champagne toast led by Rick Selden, whose remarkable 54 years of service exemplify the spirit and dedication of Rotary. Rick and the entire Selden family were recently honored by the Lakewood City Council for their many decades of service to our neighborhood. 

Gayle Selden, a third-generation Rotarian known as the face of Ed Selden Carpet One in Lakewood, emceed the event. 

Guests were encouraged to relax and enjoy an evening of friendship. As a tribute to the original Lakewood Rotary’s “Sportsman’s Dinner,” Carr's Restaurant provided bison sliders, quail bites, and alligator sausage that captured the essence of the hunt for wild game that was originally part of Lakewood Rotary’s fundraising tradition. Casa Mia, Bloom Thai, and Mazatlán, all local Lakewood restaurants, also provided a variety of diverse offerings to suit any and every palate. 

To accompany the food, wine tasting and beer tasting kept everyone’s palates refreshed. Wine vendors consisted of Argyle Winery, Duckhorn, EFESTĒ, and Herita Marzotto. The two beer vendors were Holy Mountain Brewery and Narrows Brewery. 

To complete the evening’s dining suite, a “Dessert Dash” was held, during which each table bid on a dessert. 

In the background, The House Band of Lakewood played familiar tunes from the past seventy years. Lakewood Rotarian Walt Richardson documented the celebration by capturing photographs throughout the evening. His images are also featured throughout this article. 

It wouldn’t be a Rotary event without raising funds for good causes. A Raise the Paddle auction in support of Nourish Food Bank was led by Nourish Chief Executive Officer Sue Potter and raised $51,000 for the purpose of opening a new food bank in Lakewood. This food bank will be located in the old Mattress Ranch location on the corner of Steilacoom Boulevard and Lakewood Drive. 

Currently, Nourish Pierce County operates six brick-and-mortar and 17 mobile food banks, serving over 6 million meals to those in need—the majority of whom are seniors and children. It was the perfect cause to inspire giving for the night. 

During the live auction, many quality items were donated by our neighbors, such as the large wine cooler (47-bottle capacity!) donated by LASA (Living Access Support Alliance), a nonprofit dedicated to preventing homelessness and supporting families in need. Rotarians provided the wine to stock the cooler. 

Another impressive auction option among many was the jewelry donated by local jeweler Lakewood Diamond Designs. Other auction offerings included three nights in Victoria, British Columbia, and a seven-day Holland America cruise for two. 

After a $5,000 raffle drawing, led by Tony Camoroda, Governor of District 5020, dancing was encouraged until the close of the evening. 

Facilitated by the freeform format of the event—no long speeches, no undue formalities—attendees were invited to spend time with friends, share a few laughs, and fully experience the energy of this special night.

Ever gracious, the Lakewood Rotary thanked everyone for their participation not just on this evening, but ever since the Rotary started 70 years ago. 

“Thank you for being here. Thank you for believing in this community. And thank you for helping us continue to build our legacy.” 

In total, about 250 people attended this memorable event to celebrate everything that the Lakewood Rotary has done and will continue to do. 

“It was a great night,” said Stephanie. 

A tentative date of May 1, 2027, is set for our next annual fundraiser, and we hope that you can join us to help us continue to Build Our Legacy.