This weekend the Rotary Club of Lethbridge Urban Spirits held its first annual masquerade to help raise funds for local and international projects.

Kristie Kruger, Urban Spirits president, said the club didn’t know what to expect as far as funds raised for the evening but that they have their hopes high.

Every year there is a masquerade ball with a unique theme. This year that theme was Mardi Gras, as the 2011 Rotary International Conference is being held in New Orleans. Next year the conference will be in Bangkok and the theme will most likely be Thai inspired.

The Rotary Club has four separate clubs in Lethbridge that are all unique in what they chose to focus on as a group. Urban Spirits is the newest to form and is unique because the median age is under 30.

“Because of that, we have talked about the focus of our program to really be on youth programs.”

Kruger only learned about the Rotary three years prior to joining and was excited to be apart of the humanitarian group.

“When I learned what Rotary was I just said, ‘Well, I’m a Rotarian, how do I get involved?’ I was a Rotarian long before I knew what Rotary was.”

She says joining the organization was a perfect fit because she could meet amazing people who work to give back to the rest of the world.

“We are so fortunate. We need to be grateful to even be born here and there is so much we can do.”

Kruger puts in five to seven hours of volunteer in weekly with the Urban Spirit club. She says it’s a ton of work but worth every second.

“I am so proud to say that I am an Urban Spiriter.”

Part of the proceeds will go towards sending pajamas to orphanages in Mongolia.

They are looking at spending a portion of the funds raised for a new skate park.

Last year, Urban Spirits partnered with the YMCA in which they redesigned a room for the Girlspace Program. Kruger says they hope to do a similar project this year with another non-profit organization.