SOUTHWICK – A trio of non-profit organizations in town are teaming up to have a fundraiser. On January 26, a wine and beer tasting and casino night will be held at the Southwick Recreation Center, with doors opening at 7 p.m.
Along with volunteers of the Southwick Recreation Center, non-profit organizations Southwick Dollars for Scholars and the Southwick Sports and Family Network are joining together at the rec center for an adults 21 years-old and older event of casino games, drinks, appetizers, raffle prizes, and a silent auction.
Members of the Southwick Sports and Family Network and Dollars for Scholars discuss the upcoming event on January 26. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Last year, the Sports and Family Network was the lone host, but this year, it was decided that the three non-profit organizations would partner up together.
Since the recreation center has a liquor license and the appropriate space available for the gathering, the three organizations determined that it would be the ideal location to host. The cost is $20 per person for tickets in advance and $25 per person at the door with the proceeds of the ticket sales being split between Sports and Family Network and the Dollars for Scholars. The money from the sale of food and drinks will go back to the recreation center.
“It just makes sense to do one big fundraiser and split it with them, “said Lisa Hough, the President of Dollars for Scholars.
The Southwick Recreation Center offers sports programs for youth and adults while Dollars for Scholars helps raise scholarship money for high school students at Southwick Regional School. The Southwick Sports and Family Network, which was established in 2018, works with other organizations in town to offer sports programs and other activities.
With each organization having its own purpose and strengths, they see it as a successful partnership for the upcoming event. For the Sports and Family Network, they maintain a heavy presence on their website and social media which aids in promoting the event and working with businesses in the community.
“We have the ability to do the fundraiser and help get the word out,” said Sports and Family Network President Joe Hough.
Hough also noted that if any business wants to sponsor the event, the Sports and Family Network has the ability to do that.
The event will feature at least two blackjack tables, a spinning wheel, and a dice game. When people enter the game floor at the recreation center, they’ll have the opportunity to win tickets by taking part in these games. If someone begins to win, they can cash out their chips for tickets and use those tickets for the raffle prizes that will be available.
Some of the raffle prizes and silent auction items already confirmed for the event include a Budweiser basket, whiskey basket, four tickets to the Hartford Yard Goats, a round of golf for four at The Ranch Golf Club, a round of golf for four at the Tekoa Country Club, and tickets to a University of Massachusetts Hockey game.
If anyone is interested in purchasing tickets in advance, they can visit the Southwick Sports and Family website.
