Record-breaking Rose Sale brings in $55K
Newborn hearing screener Janice Altman is pleasantly surprised by a bouquet of roses Friday morning as senior communications and marketing specialist Ryan Fay helps with Rotary Rose Sale deliveries throughout Kootenai Health. The Coeur d'Alene Rotary Club's 35th annual Rose Sale was one for the record books as 1,540 dozen roses were sold to bring in $55,000 that will go back into the community.
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A smiling Mary Sanderson documents a cheerful Luke Russell as he carries buckets of roses Friday morning at the Hagadone Event Center.
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North Idaho College nursing student Lydia Montour smiles after being presented a dozen Rotary Rose Sale roses Friday morning at Kootenai Health.
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Rotary Rose Sale co-chairs Ashley Lenz, left, and Jody Azevedo say good morning to Ginger, fellow Rotarian Heidi Rogers' dog, Friday at the Hagadone Event Center as Rose Sale roses are distributed to be delivered throughout the community. This year Rotarians sold 1,540 dozen roses.
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Lucinda Ade, longtime Rotarian and past Rose Sale chair, organizes the many bouquets of roses she will deliver throughout the community Friday during Rose Sale Delivery Day.
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Canopy Village team members received Rotary Rose Sale roses Friday as a gesture of gratitude for the work they do for children and families in need in the community. From left: Sarah Meyer, operations coordinator; Michelle Robinson, director of finance and operations; Patti Reichert, director of family support services; Rosa Mettler, interim executive director; and Christine Shear, director of compliance and human resources.
Courtesy photo
The 35th annual Rotary Rose Sale was the biggest to date, with 1,548 dozen roses sold and more than $55,000 in net proceeds.
And when the Rotary Club of Coeur d'Alene scores big, it's a touchdown for the whole community.
"We've raised the most amount of money," Rose Sale co-chair Ashley Lenz said Friday morning while organizing orders and directing traffic as roses were picked up at the Hagadone Event Center.
The previous record was about $53,000, she said.
The 2025 Rose Sale MVP was Coeur d'Alene Rotary President John Young, who sold 93 dozen roses and gifted 43 dozen to local nonprofits. A football fan, Young was also responsible for coming up with this year's campaign concept.
"We had a football theme and everybody helped put the ball over the line," said Rose Sale co-chair Carla Cicero, who described the effort shown by all Rotarians as tremendous.
"As always, it depends on the team, and we had great team leaders and really used the theme of football to fire people up," Cicero said.
Coeur d'Alene Rotary members annually conduct the Rose Sale — accompanied by a spirited, friendly competition — to raise money that will go back into the community. Rose Sale funds support grants for community causes and scholarships for high school students to attend local higher education institutions, including North Idaho College and the University of Idaho.
"We're just elated that we've been able to accomplish this as a club," Lenz said. "The whole idea of these roses going to 1,500-plus people and brightening their days is just amazing. It makes all the hard work worth it."
As roses are presented to wives, girlfriends, moms, grandmas and other friends and loved ones, they also bring cheer to area businesses and nonprofit organizations. This year, 180 dozen were delivered to 12 North Idaho nonprofits.
"I wanted to take advantage of the Rotary Rose Sale to help lift up my team at Canopy Village by delivering the leadership and operational staff some beautiful flowers this morning in support of the great work they do for children and families in need in our community," said Paul Brown, director of development for Canopy Village. "Happy to report it was a success!"
Several dozen roses were distributed at Kootenai Health, received by nurses and clinical staff.
"You saw our smiles. We love flowers," registered nurse Shirleen Jacobs said. "We appreciate them, we fully appreciate the thought."
Nursing student Lydia Montour, who wants to be a labor and delivery nurse, smiled when she was surprised with vibrant orange roses.
"We just really appreciate that people are thinking about us over here," she said. "I'm sure it will brighten everyone's day."
A smiling Mary Sanderson documents a cheerful Luke Russell as he carries buckets of roses Friday morning at the Hagadone Event Center.
North Idaho College nursing student Lydia Montour smiles after being presented a dozen Rotary Rose Sale roses Friday morning at Kootenai Health.
Rotary Rose Sale co-chairs Ashley Lenz, left, and Jody Azevedo say good morning to Ginger, fellow Rotarian Heidi Rogers' dog, Friday at the Hagadone Event Center as Rose Sale roses are distributed to be delivered throughout the community. This year Rotarians sold 1,540 dozen roses.
Lucinda Ade, longtime Rotarian and past Rose Sale chair, organizes the many bouquets of roses she will deliver throughout the community Friday during Rose Sale Delivery Day.
Canopy Village team members received Rotary Rose Sale roses Friday as a gesture of gratitude for the work they do for children and families in need in the community. From left: Sarah Meyer, operations coordinator; Michelle Robinson, director of finance and operations; Patti Reichert, director of family support services; Rosa Mettler, interim executive director; and Christine Shear, director of compliance and human resources.