Try your luck at Alexian's casino night fundraiser

Proceeds to help fund scholarships

photo From left are Alexian Scholarship Fund committee members Gene Petty, Lynelle Mason, Jean Petree, Pat Boles and Gordon Smith.

Whether you are a seasoned gambler or have never played craps, blackjack or poker, Alexian has a fun night planned to help raise funds for its scholarship fund Friday, Feb. 28 from 7-10 p.m.

This is the first year Alexian has held a casino night fundraiser for its scholarship fund, which pays for employees and children of its employees in the dining services department to go to college. Students have to commit to continue working for dining services and can reapply to receive another $1,000 each semester.

In past years, Alexian held a Valentine's Day dance to raise money for the fund, said casino night event chair Pat Boles.

"We wanted to do something really different that would really grab people," she said, and one of the committee members who had been to a casino night in the past suggested having one.

A professional company will bring in blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, a money wheel and slot machines.

"It's going to be a big deal," Boles said. "They're converting the whole second floor."

The event will also feature a carving station, desserts, a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres distributed by servers through the crowd.

The event committee sold sponsorships to finance the event, so all funds raised will go toward the scholarship fund, said Boles.

The cost is $50 per person, and each attendee gets $1,000 in chips. The dealers will explain the games to those who do not know how to play, Boles said.

At the end of the night, attendees can cash in their chips for raffle tickets for prizes, such as a weekend in the mountains or gift certificates to local businesses.

"If you come to support the scholarship fund, you'll get good food and fellowship, and it's really fun to win a prize," she said.

Alexian gave out 25 scholarships this year - much more than ever before - and had 23 of those students reapply at the end of the semester, said Boles.

"We have a fantastic percentage of people returning," she said. "We are just real excited about it and want to encourage them to be successful in the future."

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