Western Piedmont Foundation rolls the dice on Casino Night

The Western Piedmont Foundation knows when to hold ’em and they know when to fold ’em. At the end of the month, they’ll count the funds, once the dealing’s done.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, at 5:30 p.m., the nonprofit will open the doors of The Barn venue located at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics for Casino Night.

“Most nonprofits have some type of signature event,” Western Piedmont Foundation Executive Director Mackenzie Bostian-Adams said, explaining that the idea is months, if not years, in the making.

Bostian-Adams said the foundation compiled a concept binder labeled “Casino Night” well before she arrived in her position, based on a previous event hosted by Morganton Day School.

Her team chose the theme after visiting several colleges across the state when she came on board and learning about the success James Sprunt Community College in Kenansville had with a casino night.

WHERE THE FUNDS GO

All pre-purchased ticket sales and sponsorship fees will go to the foundation, and any funds raised on the night of the event will go to the Jim W. Burnett Professional Development Fund, which is used to provide professional development for employees.

“On the night of, people can pledge amounts that they would like to Jim Burnett, himself,” Bostian-Adams said. The former president of WPCC and 2014 Order of the Long Leaf Pine award recipient will be in person at the event. “He will be there speaking about the fund and what it benefits.”

Since this is the first Casino Night the foundation has hosted, there are no expectations set for fundraising goals. According to Bostian-Adams, they’ll use the amounts raised this year to set goals for their next fundraiser.

HOW IT WORKS

From blackjack to poker to roulette to craps, attendees will be given chips for play and tickets for a limited amount of beer and wine during the four-hour event. Time to dust off those blazers, cocktail dresses, and old Oxfords, because the dress code is semi-formal.

Admission is $70 a person and tickets are available at wpcc.edu/foundation or by emailing foundation@wpcc.edu. The foundation expects 180-200 attendees and, as of Friday, 159 tickets were already sold.

After enjoying the evening, guests trade their chips for tickets, which are entered for raffle items. The prizes vary and are still piling up, with one of the higher-tier wins being a free stay at a cabin in Gingercake Acres, near the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area.

Sponsors can still get in on the action if they contact the foundation no later than Feb. 16. Sponsorship packages range from $100 to $5,000 and include varying levels of recognition and ticket benefits.

LEGALITY

North Carolina is strict with laws governing games of chance. Charitable nonprofits can apply for specialized permits from the state’s Alcohol Law Enforcement and the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Commission to host fundraisers like Casino Night.

Events of this nature also require plenty of ground rules and regulations.

“First, I had to obtain the ABC license,” Bostian-Adams said. “(The gaming permit) process began in September. It took from September to January, and I had to provide several documents like a background check, layout of the premises, where the bar would be located, (and) where all the tables will be located.”

The foundation is required to have all of those documents and a security guard on site, as well as alerting the police ahead of time that they will be hosting the event.

Although the drinks won’t be brought to the tables like old-school Vegas casinos, Bostian-Adams hopes a little alcohol will lighten the mood and help everyone socialize.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Western Piedmont Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) through scholarships, employee mini-grants, equipment needs, and other college projects.