PUTNAM — Question: What community event recently celebrated its five-year anniversary by raising a record amount of funds?
Answer: The Rotaract Club’s Trivia Night!
Held on Nov. 3 the 5th annual Quinebaug Valley Regional Rotaract Club’s Trivia Night raised a total of $7,000 to benefit the Club’s scholarship program, which awards financial aid to students focused on serving their community.
With more than 150 players and spectators, the 2017 Trivia Night featured spirited competition among 14 teams comprised of eight players. The event’s sponsors included bankHometown, Archambault Insurance, Putnam Bank, and Wheelabrator Technologies.
The Woodstock Academy also made a significant contribution in the form of 200 cupcakes prepared by its Pastry & Baking students. Paul Pikora of Archambault Insurance and Gary and Karen Osbrey of WINY Radio also reprised their volunteer roles as scorekeeper, trivia jockey, and trivia master, respectively.
For the first time in the event’s history the reigning champions, Archambault Insurance, captured the Trivia Night trophy for a second consecutive year. Second place was captured by the Killingly-Brooklyn Rotary Club, while TEEG took home the third-place prize.
Cash prizes for first and second place were generously donated back to the Rotaract Club’s scholarship program. Rachel Johnston of Johnston and Associates Real Estate also donated back her winnings from the event’s 50/50 raffle. Additionally, the Byrnes Insurance Agency took home the team spirit award for their commitment to their team name “The Pink Ladies.” Not only did they all come in costume, they went as far as bringing their own decorations for their table!
Other participating local businesses and groups included Jewett City Savings Bank, Biomass Controls,  Kaplan & Brennan LLP, the Putnam Fire Department, and Savage Systems, Putnam Rotary Club, as well as several teams comprised of friends and family.
“Trivia Night could not have reached the five-year milestone without the support of the businesses that sponsor the event and organize teams, as well as the community members who donate their time, talent, and treasure,” said Rotaract Club President Andrew Morrison. “We appreciate everyone’s help, and we know we’ll be thanking them at the 10th, 15th, and 20th anniversary Trivia Nights, too.”
The Trivia Night competition was established in 2013 as a fund-raising event to benefit the Rotaract Club’s scholarship foundation. Since the first competition, the club has awarded approximately $14,000 in college scholarships to local students in recognition of their community involvement, academic achievements and extracurricular activities.
The Rotaract Club is a community service and professional networking organization for young professionals (ages 18 to 35) co-sponsored by the Putnam and Danielson Rotary Clubs and committed to the Rotary model of “Service Above Self.”
New members interested in community service and professional networking are encouraged to join. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/putnamrotaractclub or our website at www.qvrrotaractclub.com.