Rotary Club Honors Marblehead's Got Talent Director

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Rather than suspend the Rotary Club of Marblehead's annual Marblehead's Got Talent competition amid the coronavirus health crisis, David Deutsch moved it online and made it bigger than ever.

The Rotary Club celebrated its district assistant governor and former Rotary president for this feat with Paul Harris Fellow recognition for his commitment to the program.

"In the age of the pandemic, Mr. Deutsch almost single-handedly moved the event to a virtual environment, making the show possible despite distancing restrictions," the club said. "The online forum allowed each contestant to showcase their talent to reach an even wider audience. Maximizing his use of technology and creativity, he was the prime visionary of a virtual auction event that increased the Rotary Club's fundraising outreach."

This year, the winners will share in $12,000 in scholarships — the largest scholarship pool in the 10-year-old program's history.

Deutsch also helped raise funds for the Marblehead All-Sports Boosters Club and was an integral part of the Marblehead and Chelsea Rotary Clubs' Service Dog Project to help fulfill a fundraising commitment for the family of an autistic child in Chelsea.

The Rotary Club said the presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow recognition is the Rotary Foundation's way of expressing its appreciation for a substantial contribution to its humanitarian and educational programs.

It is named for Rotary's founder, Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International. With a contribution to Rotary International, Rotarians often designate a Paul Harris Fellow as a "tribute to a person whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of The Rotary Foundation."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.