Rotarian plans fundraiser to benefit literacy council

Published 12:00 pm Friday, May 27, 2016

Heading up a large crawfish boil fundraiser is no small feat, but Port Kaigler was ready.

Kaigler served as chairman of the fifth annual Tunes & Tails Crawfish Boil that recently was presented by The Rotary Foundation and hosted by the Rotary Club of Oxford-Ole Miss. The event went so well that the club anticipates donating $4,000 to the Lafayette County Literacy Council.

“I agreed to volunteer as the event coordinator this year because I have been involved with the event since its inception and believe that Tunes & Tails has the potential to be an event that Oxonians look forward to each May,” Kaigler said.

Email newsletter signup

The event included all-you-can-eat crawfish, bottomless cups of Yalobusha Brewing Company beer, live music and a kids zone with an obstacle course, quarterback toss, cornhole and face-painting.

“Tunes & Tails originated in Oxford 2012 and we’ve been building on it every year,” he said. “We had approximately 275 people attend this past Saturday.”

Kaigler, a 35-year-old assistant director for the Ole Miss Alumni Association who works with Ole Miss Sports Travel and coordinates the Rebel Road Trip, first joined Rotary in 2011 and has already served as president, from 2013-2014.

“I was looking for the opportunity to give back to our community through service,” he said.

Kaigler has lived in Oxford for almost 18 years with his family and loves, “all things Ole Miss and a good book.”

Larry Brookhart, a leader with Rotary Club of Oxford-Ole Miss, also appreciates that he enjoys all things Rotary also.

“Port is definitely one of the ‘go-to persons’ in our club who always is willing to help and personifies Rotary’s motto of ‘service Above self,’” Brookhart said. “A Rotarian like Port who has served as past president of our club, volunteered to be service projects chair, and then steps up to take the reins of one of our signature charitable events is truly a key asset to our community.”