Submitted photos Children are all smiles during a recent Citizens Promoting Community charity cakewalk event in Elkins.

ELKINS — Phillips Kolsun, president, and co-founder of the local organization Citizens Promoting Community (CPC), visited the Rotary Club of Elkins, giving details on the group’s upcoming activities.

Citizens Promoting Community was founded in 2021 and, since that time, has raised approximately $18,000 for various local non-profit organizations. Among that group are Tygart Valley United Way, the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center, Scouting USA, Meals on Wheels, Tyrand Cooperative Ministries, Elkins Babe Ruth League, the YMCA, Literacy Volunteers of Randolph County and the GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of Elkins.

The mission of the group is to create community within the City of Elkins and to create programs and events that will bring people together. “In 2021 when we initially started, there was a great deal of want for people to come out because we were coming off of COVID and people wanted to be out and doing things,” said Kolsun. “We were able to make that happen and we’ve been very successful with it.”

Organizations must apply to CPC to be included in the group’s fundraising activities. In addition to information about the organization’s activities, volunteers must be provided to help with set-up and tear-down of the event. The partner organization must also provide a minimum of 40 cakes for the evening. CPC provides the bonus prize which has a minimum value of $50.00 for the final cakewalk of the evening.

Kolsun encouraged all to mark their calendars for the group’s upcoming cakewalks. The first cakewalk of the year was held on June 13, benefitting Meals on Wheels and the cakewalk on June 20th benefitted the upcoming Elkins 4th of July parade. Additional events will be held on July 18 [Elkins Babe Ruth], August 1 [Elkins Area Band Auxiliary], and August 15 [Tyrand Cooperative Ministries]. The cakewalks are held in the Citizens Bank of WV customer parking lot and begin at 6 P.M. All the cakewalks are $.25 a piece except for the last cakewalk of the evening, for a bonus prize, which costs $1.00. In the past years, cakewalk participation has ranged from 40 to 125 walkers. There are two numbered cakewalk rings that allows for flexibility based on the number of people who participate on any given evening.

In addition to the cakewalks, the group has sponsored a cornhole tournament to benefit the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center and the Depot Day to support the West Virginia Railroad Museum located on Railroad Avenue in the Darden Mill building.

A new event the group is sponsoring is the upcoming 4th of July parade being held in conjunction with many other events over that weekend. “There are lots of events going on, the car show, fireworks, and the concert. We decided to have a July 4th parade this year. The parade will be on July 4th at 5 P.M. and will start at the intersection of 11th Street and S. Davis Avenue and end at City Hall,” commented Kolsun. “We have first, second and third place prizes for various categories. The categories are floats, twirlers and dance groups, a special category for children under 12 to decorate their bicycles in the most patriotic garb they can fine, as well as an ATV and UTC decorating competition.” CPC is grateful for the parade sponsors – Kolsun Media, Graceland Inn and Restaurant, Magnolia Hall at Scott Hill, Ceramics with Class, Kathy’s Decorating & Design, Roy’s RVs Supercenter, and Elkins WalMart. Citizens Promoting Community is still looking for entries in the parade. All wishing to do so many contact Kolsun at 304.550.9619 or phillipskolsun@gmail.com.

In addition to Kolsun, the board of Citizens Promoting Community includes Burley Woods, Paula Marco, Jenna Jeffries, C.J. Hurd and Christy Wilson. “We’re a small group but we’ve been able to do some big things and we’re very excited about what the future holds for our organization,” concluded Kolsun. More information about Citizens Promoting Community can be found on the group’s Facebook page — Citizens Promoting Community — or by contacting any of the organization’s board members.

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in their communities, and in themselves. Visit www.Rotary.org to learn more about Rotary International, visit the club’s Facebook page – Rotary Club of Elkins – or contact 2025-2026 club president Phillips Kolsun at phillipskolsun@gmail.com for more information about the Rotary Club of Elkins.