The Knoxville Rotary Club celebrated 85 years as a club with a birthday celebration at their noon meeting on Wednesday.

The event was held at the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and was a way to celebrate the group that was officially chartered on April 5th, 1940. At the meeting, there was a presentation given highlighting the history of Rotary over the years. Sara Roberts with the Knoxville Rotary Club says this was a great way to celebrate the history of the group.

“I think it’s a pretty neat thing, this is our 85th year as being a chartered member of Rotary International. I think for the community aspect of it and for us as an organization that’s a pretty big deal. You don’t see organizations that last that long. I’m hoping that by having the celebration today that it will show everybody what Rotary has meant to Knoxville in the last 85 years.”

Total contributions of the Knoxville Rotary Club has been $203,825.