The Park Ridge Rotary Club was the first non-profit organization to take advantage of Houlihan's Charity Guest Bartender Night on Thursday, Sept. 13. 

The restaurant is allowing different non-profits the opportunity to raise funds one Thursday each month this fall, by allowing organization members to be a guest bartender and generate tips during a two-hour period. 

"We are happy to support charity members in our community that help to make Park Ridge a great place to live," said Wendy Schultz, Houlihan's general manager.

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"We think this is a wonderful way to promote these organizations, while helping them raise funds," Schultz said.

The Rotary Club plans to donate money raised from tips to the End Polio Now campaign, sponsored by the Rotary International Foundation. 

"Since 1985, more than $1 billion has been raised, and 1.3 million Rotarians have travelled around the globe to provide immunizations to prevent polio," said Charlotte Ogorek, Rotary Foundation chair. 

The goal, through raising funds, is to eradicate polio in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, the last three countries left in the world where the disease has not been adequately addressed, Ogorek said. 

"Our mission is to make a difference and do good in the world, and this effort is one of the many ways that we do this," said John Davis, Park Ridge Rotary president. 

For more information on how to participate in Houlihan's Charity Guest Bartender Nights, email Wendy Schultz at wschultz@houlihans.com.