News

An Evening of Fun, Fellowship & Philanthropy

The Rotary Club of Pittsboro is excited to invite our community to Spring Into Luck Bingo Night, a festive fundraising evening taking place on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 6:00 PM at The Quiltmaker Café in Pittsboro. Buy your tickets today!

Whether you're a Bingo enthusiast or simply looking for a great night out with friends and neighbors, this event promises fun, laughter, and the opportunity to make a real difference in a local student's life.

What to Expect

Guests will enjoy a sit-down dinner and ten exciting rounds of Bingo, with prizes up for grabs throughout the evening. The atmosphere will be lively and welcoming, perfect for bringing the whole crew. Dinner is from 6 - 7 PM, and bingo starts at 7 PM.

Ticket prices are simple:

• Dinner ticket: $20 (proceeds support The Quiltmaker Café)

• Bingo cards: $25 for 3 cards per game across all 10 rounds

• Extra Bingo cards per game available for purchase at the event (dinner tickets and Bingo cards must be purchased in advance)

Supporting the Karen Sbrollini Heilman Scholarship

Every Bingo card purchased goes directly to support the Karen Sbrollini Heilman Scholarship, awarded annually to exceptional seniors in the Pittsboro area to help them pursue higher education. Your dinner ticket supports The Quiltmaker Café, a great local venue making the evening possible.

In 2025 alone, six scholarships were awarded. Since 2018, the Rotary Club of Pittsboro has awarded at least one scholarship every year, and often more. The cumulative impact on our community is profound.

The scholarship was renamed in 2021 to honor Karen S. Heilman, a beloved educator, coach, and tireless advocate for students in the Chatham County School System. As an AVID instructor, Karen guided countless students toward college acceptance and academic achievement. Her spirit of Service Above Self continues to inspire everything we do.

Get Your Tickets

Tickets must be purchased in advance HERE. This event fills up fast, so don’t wait. Additional Bingo cards will be available for purchase at the event.

For more information about the Karen Sbrollini Heilman Scholarship and how to apply, please visit the scholarship application page.

Come for the Bingo. Stay for the community. And leave knowing you've made a difference. We look forward to seeing you on May 7th. 🍀

The Rotary Club of Pittsboro is proud to announce its sponsorship of four local high school students to attend the 2026 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference, a premier leadership development experience for young leaders across the region.

The conference will take place June 17–20, 2026, at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina.

RYLA is an intensive, four-day overnight leadership conference designed for rising high school juniors and seniors. Sponsored by Rotary Clubs throughout District 7690, the program focuses on developing leadership skills, strengthening communication abilities, fostering teamwork, and building confidence. Participants engage in interactive workshops, team-building exercises, and discussions led by experienced facilitators and community leaders.

“RYLA is a transformative experience,” said Rebecca Hankins, a representative of the Rotary Club of Pittsboro. “Students leave with greater self-confidence, new friendships, and the tools they need to lead effectively in their schools and communities.”

The Rotary Club of Pittsboro is committed to investing in the next generation of leaders and will cover the full cost of attendance for four selected students. There is no cost to students or their families.

Students who demonstrate leadership potential and are actively involved in their school or community are encouraged to apply.

Application Details:

• Who: Rising high school juniors and seniors

• What: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference

• When: June 17–20, 2026

• Deadline to Express Interest: March 15, 2026

Students and parents should email rotaryofpittsboroyouthservices@gmail.com no later than March 15 to receive application information.

Additional information about the RYLA program is available at: https://ryla7690.org.

The Rotary Club of Pittsboro remains dedicated to supporting youth leadership development and empowering young people to create positive change in their communities.

The Rotary Club of Pittsboro marked the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday with a Day of Service focused on caring for local seniors, a population among the most vulnerable in Chatham County.

In partnership with Chatham County Schools and the Northwood High School Interact Club, Rotary volunteers, students, community members, and educators came together to create no-sew fleece blankets and assemble more than 70 care packages for seniors in need. The items will be distributed through Chatham County Meals on Wheels, a program of Chatham County Aging Services. 

“Chatham County Schools is proud to support our community through small acts that lead to big change,” said Dr. Jayme McPhatter, Coordinator of Special Programs for Chatham County Schools.

Meals on Wheels serves residents 60 years of age and older who are homebound and unable to prepare their own meals. Dedicated volunteers deliver meals Monday through Friday while also providing social interaction and wellness checks for recipients, many of whom live alone.

“Seniors are some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Roger Saunders, President of the Rotary Club of Pittsboro. “Many are isolated and do not see many people day to day. This project was about reaching out and letting them know they are seen, cared for, and valued.”

Students from the Northwood High School Interact Club played a key role in the service project, gaining hands-on experience in community service and leadership.

“Our youth showed tremendous compassion,” said Shari Becker, Rotary Youth Services Chair. “They learned that service does not have to be complicated to be meaningful. Small acts of kindness can make a real difference, especially for seniors who may be feeling alone.”

As volunteers packed care items, tied fleece blankets, and wrote messages of encouragement, the room was filled with energy, purpose, and a shared understanding of Dr. King’s enduring message that service strengthens communities.

Funding for the MLK Day of Service was made possible in part through the Pittsboro Street Fair, which supports Rotary service projects throughout the year. Proceeds from the fair enable the Rotary Club of Pittsboro to address local needs and invest directly in the community.

“The Pittsboro Street Fair helps turn community support into real impact,” Saunders added. “Because of it, we can support projects like this that strengthen our community.”

The Rotary Club of Pittsboro is committed to service leadership and building strong connections across Chatham County. Community members interested in learning more about Rotary or getting involved are encouraged to email rotaryofpittsboro@gmail.com.

This Thanksgiving season, the Rotary Club of Pittsboro came together once again to support CORA Food Pantry’s annual Turkey Day initiative. Thanks to the generosity and teamwork of our members, we were able to donate 94 turkeys and 96 hams — an incredible 1,731 pounds of food — to help ensure that families across Chatham County can enjoy a warm, festive holiday meal. 

At Rotary, service above self is more than a motto — it’s a way of showing up for our neighbors. We’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to support CORA’s mission to build a community without hunger, especially during a time of year when food brings people together, and memories are made around the table.

A huge thank you to every Rotarian who contributed, loaded, lifted, delivered, organized, and spread the word. Your kindness helps brighten the season for hundreds of families, and your commitment to our community makes all the difference.

Here’s to continued service, partnership, and compassion — not just during the holidays, but all year long.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Rotary Club of Pittsboro!