More tickets are being sold, more prizes and auction items being donated, and more volunteers jumping on board all the time.
In short, the Riverside Foundation for Health Care’s annual fundraiser—which this year is in the form of a chair auction and casino on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Memorial Sports Centre—is shaping up to be quite the event, director Teresa Hazel said Monday.
“We definitely have over 100 tickets sold, which is about half. If people want to come out, get your tickets fast—they’re moving,” stressed Hazel, who added the response to the casino has been positive so far.
“I think people are looking forward to a fun evening out. It’s a little different than what we’ve done in the past,” she noted. “We’ve gotten good feedback from people who may not normally go to a $50 a plate dinner.”
She added those who do come out for the casino night should expect some surprises, such as costumes and all sorts of puns. “After all, this is the special events committee we’re talking about,” Hazel laughed.
Joan Allison, who chairs the special events committee, said people can expect a casual evening out with little formal program—adding most people who have bought tickets to date are expecting to come out as a couple, or with a few friends, as opposed to co-workers as often was the case with the corporate-sponsored tables at previous fundraiser dinners.
Hazel added any businesses wishing to sponsor a gaming table can contact her as there’s only a few left. These go for $1,500 (gold), $1,000 (silver), and $500 (bronze).
Sponsored tables include admission to the casino, “fun” money, and casino prize tickets.
Advance tickets only are being sold for the casino night at $25 each, which are available through Hazel (274-4803) or from any member of the Foundation’s special events committee.
The ticket includes a $15 charitable receipt as well as $1,000 in “fun” money.
This Vegas-style evening will feature blackjack, roulette, and wheels of chance. A mix-and-mingle will start at 7:30 p.m., with the gaming tables opening at 8.
The “fun” money can be used at the tables, where “winnings” then can be used to buy prizes. Additional “fun” money can be acquired at the casino by making a donation to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care.
Staff from Casino Fantasy in Winnipeg will be on hand to train the dealers and gaming table volunteers.
The casino also will feature a “Win, Lose, or Drink” cash bar, wandering waitresses, games of chance, a “money grab” machine, silent auction, and casino prizes.
Finger foods, including chicken wings and pizza provided by Toonie’s Bar and Grill, will be available for sale that night. Snacks also will be sold.
Age of majority is required for admission.
The “Luck of the Draw” raffle also will be held that evening, where the first-prize winner will receive a fly-in fishing trip for two to Campbell’s Cabins.
Second prize is a $200 gift certificate from The Place while third prize is a dinner for two and manicure/pedicure.
Tickets for the draw, which cost $5 each, are on sale now at various locations around, including Cousineau Brokers and The Place. You also can call Hazel at 274-4803.
< *c>Chairs galore
Meanwhile, the “chair-ity” auction being held Feb. 28—featuring a variety of handcrafted, hand-painted, old, new, and refurbished chairs created and donated by local crafters, artists, woodworkers, and area businesses—is seeing a “ton” of entries flooding in, said Hazel.
“We’re getting ones that we didn’t know would be coming in,” said Hazel, adding Linda Plumridge, Debbie Logan, and Leanne Donaldson from the Fort Frances Times, for instance, have or soon will donate painted chairs.
As well, the co-op of artists at the Fine Line Art Gallery have donated not only work done by groups of artists there, but chairs done by students in some of the classes they’re offering.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response,” echoed Allison. “As I speak, someone is dropping of a ‘pouting chair.’ I have no idea what a ‘pouting chair’ is used for—maybe for someone with children.
“Or a husband—it depends on how big the chair is.”
Those curious to see what will be up for bid can get a sneak peek as volunteers have set up a display in a storefront on the 200 block of Scott Street (the former Tammi’s Flower Garden location).
The current display is expected to change at least once before Feb. 28 as more and more chairs come in, said Allison.
The “chair-ity” auction will be open to the public starting at noon on Feb. 28 in the upstairs foyer at the Memorial Sports Centre. Admission is free. There will be a closed-bid auction for some chairs, tickets for the penny table chairs, and silent auction chairs.
Allison said she’s hoping to attract extra traffic from the hockey tournament and Borderland Thunder game scheduled at the Memorial Sports Centre that afternoon and evening.
This will be the seventh-annual event for the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, which raises funds for La Verendrye hospital here as well as the health centres in Emo and Rainy River.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
