The “Other” Quilt Show That Has Raised Nearly $1 Million for Local Education Initiatives
Residents of Paducah and McCracken County know what the third week of April brings to our quiet river town. We aren’t talking about the dogwood blooms. You know what we are talking about; it’s the time of year when fabric and stitches are the topics of conversations among the strangers you pass by on the downtown streets. It’s Quilt Week in Paducah!
To date, over $935,000 has been raised for local education initiatives!
If you are not a fan of textile art or choose to avoid the Quilt Show scene, you might not be aware there is a second quilt show that takes place here every year alongside the AQS sponsored event. That “other show” is the Rotary Antique Quilt Show sponsored by the Rotary Club of Paducah, and the impact on our community is quite significant.
2018 marks the 30th anniversary for this annual fundraising event. The show is organized and staffed entirely by volunteers in honor of the Rotary motto “Service Above Self.” All funds raised support the Rotary Education Assistance Program (REAP). The Rotary Club of Paducah initiated the idea for a Community Scholarship Program (CSP) through West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC).
This year’s show will feature a special display in honor of Dr. Wally Montgomery and his wife, former Mayor of Paducah, Gerry Montgomery. The Montgomerys are long-time Rotarians who have exemplified “Service Above Self.” The Montgomery Gallery is displayed in their honor.
Featured Above: Rotary President Melanie McNeill, Former Mayor Gerry Montgmery, Dr. Wally Montgomery, and Rotary Vice President and Quilt Show Chair Randy Bridges
CSP provides an incentive to McCracken County youth to stay in school and work toward a productive future. The goal of the program is to increase the percentage of high school graduates from high schools within McCracken County who transition to postsecondary education after high school graduation by eliminating the financial cost: the number one ranked barrier to a college education. Since the program’s beginning, more than 85% of the total number of eligible high school students in McCracken County have pledged to consider college after high school.
Attend the Show
Even if quilts aren’t your thing, consider making a trip this week to “that other quilt show.” This year’s theme is Southern Splendor celebrating Southern Heritage. In addition to the quilt display, attendees will have access to a merchant mall featuring handmade items from artisans across the country. Tickets are just $7 and all proceeds stay in our local community and benefit our youth. The show is held at Robert Cherry Civic Center on Park Avenue. The show is open today from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
