Charity gambling, auctions at 388th Round Up Fundraiser

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Want to gamble without a guilty conscience? Want to throw someone in jail for a worthy cause?

Come and bring your friends to Club Hill on Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. for a casual night of gambling, barbecue and auctions at the 8th annual 388th Fighter Wing Spouses Round Up Fundraiser.

It's not real gambling, however. With the purchase of an entrance ticket for $10 in advance, $12 at the door, it is exchanged for "funny money." Volunteer dealers at the gaming tables will exchange the "funny money" for chips. If your luck runs out early, more "funny money" will be available for purchase throughout the evening. All gambling is offered in agreement with Utah state laws, of course.

In addition to gambling, other forms of entertainment will include a live band, a silent auction and a live auction, where attendees can bid on items donated by local businesses. Door prizes will be given away throughout the evening. The entrance ticket price includes a barbecue brisket dinner, and mixed drinks, beer, wine and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

"It's fun and casual, for a great cause, and you just can't beat the cost!" said 388th Round Up committee member Dana Reeder.

"For ten bucks, you get a great dinner, live entertainment," said another committee member Stacey Christopherson. "Everybody this year is going to walk away with something, with a ton of free giveaways and (low-bid) auction items."

The "real" money supports more than 13 Hill Air Force Base programs which benefit all military families from every service and rank. Last year, approximately 10 percent of the $30,000 raised from the Round Up proceeds went to Operation COPE, a program that allows military families and squadron members to strengthen and connect with each other before and after deployment.

The event is open to everyone 21 years or older and is not limited to base identification cardholders or by military status. Off-base civilians are also encouraged to attend, donate or even provide sponsorships.

"Tami Snell is in charge of gate logistics, and she just needs the name and drivers license number (of the off-base attendee)," explained Christopherson. "The list is then given to the gate guards and as long as they are on the list, they are good to get into the Round Up."

Funding for the Round Up consists of three parts -- donations, corporate sponsorships and ticket sales. Corporate sponsors who donate more than $750 will receive a base tour in the fall of this year, as well as a business listing on all Round Up publicity materials.

One fundraising event during the evening involves donating money to have one of your friends or co-workers thrown into a makeshift "jail cell" and the "prisoner" must rely on others to "bail" him out.

"Another way we raise money is we sell the tables," said Reeder. "If people would like to have a place to sit with their friends, since seating is limited and it is a standing event, then they can purchase a (10-person) table for $250." There are currently five tables remaining for this year's event, she said.

"This event consists of 100 percent volunteers with almost 100 percent of the funding distributed to on base programs, with only a small portion going to cover printing costs for the next year," said Reeder.

So, go ahead and gamble with a clean conscience until the cows come home!

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