BY MARCIA MILLER
Special to the Telegraph-Times-Monitor
Community members from three counties attended the Rotary Club’s Beast Feast Saturday night, enjoying delicious food while raising money for a great cause.
Proceeds from the big evening went to the Dr. Pete Gianas Scholarship Fund. “The scholarship fund will be available to any Bradford County student who wants to continue their educational journey,” said Starke Rotary President Matt Dyal. “This event is doing a great job of moving us toward our goal.”
The event included a giant all-you-can-eat buffet with a wide variety of foods including elk, gator, venison, a whole roast pig, ribs, chicken, fish, shrimp and a whole lot more. Homemade desserts capped of the expansive meal while a live band provided entertainment.
A large number of attendees walked off with prizes. Everyone received free tickets they could place in buckets designated for door prizes which included luxury gift baskets, insulated tumblers, supplies for outside activities like tether ball, hunting accessories like special binoculars, barbecue supplies, and many more. Everyone placed one or more of their tickets in the bucket which corresponded to the prize they would like to receive. Everyone was given enough free tickets to try for a number of the prizes. At the end of the evening, one ticket was drawn from each bucket and the person who held the other half of the ticket received the prize to take home.
A silent auction was held for some of the more valuable prizes. Prize-drawing games were played for a fee that allowed the winners to receive a chance at some of the grand prizes – like a vacation getaway to a cabin in North Carolina or a weekend getaway to Cedar Key.
A live auction – hosted by auctioneer and Starke Police Chief Jeff Johnson – was held to determine the winners of a 9mm handgun and a 1911 rifle.
Allen Parrish, with UF Health ShandsCair and UF Health Shands, worked in emergency services in this area for many years. He spoke to the crowd about the legacy Dr. Gianas left to the people in this area.
Dr. Gianas was involved in emergency medicine and acted as medical consultant for emergency medical services (EMS) in this area for many years. Parrish worked directly with him for many of those years and became a lifelong friend. “Dr. Gianas is a man who had an insatiable appetite for learning,” Parrish said. “It was not unusual to receive a call, e-mail or text from him at 3 a.m. as he shared something he had just learned that would benefit us.”
Parrish said that when Dr. Gianas was in high school, he used to get up at 5 a.m. to do his homework before he went to school, It was not unusual for Gianas to spend his Friday and Saturday evenings in the library studying. “He truly loved learning,” said Parrish.
Parrish said throughout Dr. Gianas’ career he had encouraged others to continue their education. Parrish said Dr. Gianas spoke to him when Parrish was 17. Dr. Gianas told him that he would pay for Parrish’s education if Parrish would return to this area to work and serve the community. He said Dr. Gianas did that for many other people as well, some of whom were in attendance at the Beast Feast. Those people went on to become healthcare professionals, educators and financial advisors, to name a few of the professions Dr. Gianas impacted.
“It is very fitting that Rotary has taken it upon themselves to fund an educational scholarship in his name,” said Parrish. “Dr. Gianas had a desire to make sure everyone had the opportunity to get an education.”
Parris said Dr. Gianas would probably be upset that his name was on the scholarship, because Gianas was never a person who sought public acclaim. “But he would be very proud to leave a legacy that will continue to help people obtain an education.”
