By Amy Bearden
Mineral Wells Area News
In their 10th year hosting the annual Bags, Bingo & Badges fundraiser, the Children’s Alliance Center has found the formula for creating the perfect event.
Three hundred and twenty women sat around tables adorned with the organization’s signature blue table cloths filled with bingo cards & dobbers, adorable personal mini-charcuteries to snack on, as well as a lineup of bags to be given away throughout the evening.
The tables scattered across the plaza of the Crazy Water Hotel around an elevated runway where First Responders strutted the stage to their “walkout song” carrying a prize bag for one lucky bingo winner.
Ladies had a chance to win ten different bags as local historian Kelly North and The Market 76067’s Denise Duncan served as bingo callers for the event. There were also some door prizes available in raffle drawings as well as a limited number of $100 raffle tickets to purchase for a chance win a Louis Vuitton designer bag.
While the event is an evening full of grown women, ogling and throwing money at local First Responders, the night is really all about the children of Palo Pinto County.
When we say the hottest ticket of the year, that’s not an ounce of exaggeration. The event has become so popular, the only way to get in on the fun is to sponsor a table, or know someone who does.
CAC Board President Sheree Patterson says that while they just don’t have a feasible, larger venue for the event, they also have discovered how to maximize fundraising for the evening.
“When this event was out at the airport hanger and we could seat 650 women. We raised less money than we do now. The expenses get so large to accommodate that many you lose your profit,” said Patterson.
Despite CAC’s fundraiser growing pains, it’s important to remember the event is designed to raise money to protect the children of Palo Pinto County. Statistics show 65% of children living here are neglected and CAC’s mission to raise funds is critical. The once a year event is not just about entertaining, it’s actually very important to the welfare of the County.
Ten years hosting the event has allowed for businesses to become long time supporters of the organization. Sponsors to CAC’s annual event always get first dibs on future sponsorships and there is often a wait list for businesses interested in participating next year.
“The people who have sponsored a table, our Platinum Sponsor Upham Oil & Gas, along with our Silver Sponsors, PPGH, The Cellar, and Diamond Pharmacy have done so, year after year, and obviously get first dibs the following year. Then the Bronze Sponsors from the previous year get an opportunity in February to recommit for an April event!! So by March, we may have 1 or maybe 2 tables that can be offered,” stated Patterson.
“We have a list of people who have waited to get the opportunity and they grab it immediately…..all committing with their check in advance.”
The group often goes into March before their annual April event already sold out, which is obviously a great problem to have because at the end of the day, it is a fundraiser!
“Our Board of Directors keep this focus all year long to allow the center to run smoothly on a daily basis. Yes, it’s a great night of fun but it’s about so much more and our sponsors and Board Members commit to that day in and day out! We truly appreciate the community as a whole who keep this center open for Law Enforcement and CPS to use as a tool in child criminal investigations.”
“One in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they are 18. The Children’s Alliance Center of Palo Pinto County allows those cases along with other child crime cases to be investigated better, get the child victim and families services and healing as well as aid prosecution. That changes who we live with in our county. It removes the perpetrators from our community. This is what the focus should be, especially in April,” wrote Patterson.
April is considered Child Abuse Prevention Month across the State of Texas and coincides with the Bingo fundraiser each year.
Patterson and her group are very proud of the event they facilitate and orchestrate each year, as they should be. She is very grateful for the support and doesn’t let any naysayers thwart their mission.
“It’s really hard to watch the keyboard warriors hack away at the event like it is exclusive to certain people, when the cause that it serves can be supported any day of the year,” she lamented.
Models of this year’s bags included Mineral Wells Police Chief Tim Denison, Lieutenant Darby Thomas, Officer Christy Streun, Miguel Hernandez, Graeme Hopkins and Steven Coleman. Palo Pinto County Sheriff Brett McGuire, Captain Darrell Self, Deputy John Smith and Patrick Faulkner participated along with Mineral Wells Fire & EMS Gavin Blackmon, Leah Fluitt, Lucas Fleckstein and Adam Baxter. Texas DPS Trooper Mike Earhart also strutted the stage.
The models were no doubt the highlight of the evening and the Center Alliance Center of Palo Pinto County should never stop this hosting this amazing, well planned event.
CAC may say it’s all FOR the kids, and while they may be right in theory, no one’s twisting any of those ladies’ arms to sit through the fabulous fundraiser.
Especially not mine…for the kids of course!!