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Several hundred people participated in Ouachita Technical College’s ‘Bingo Bash’ Friday night at OTC, all hoping to score one or more of the many prizes up for grabs during the event.
By Candice Gilbert
Ouachita Technical College’s Big Bingo Bash saw a crowd that numbered in the hundreds Friday evening. The room was so full that there was little room for the bingo workers to squeeze through the aisles as they sold additional bingo cards throughout the evening.
The purpose for the bash was to raise money for scholarships. The event raised more than $9,000 for the Scholarship Endowment fund and will help students attend college that might not be able to without financial assistance. The funds raised will be matched dollar for dollar by a federal grant therefore doubling the amount to over $18,000 to fund scholarships. Guests were given a bonus after getting seated, being told that they would be able to play 16 instead of 15 games with their admission ticket. OTC also had extra bingo cards available for each round and special cards available for the four extra rounds that were scheduled. The extra rounds could be played at one dollar per card. The players marked the called numbers for 20 bingo games and the winners received prize packages valued from $203 to $426. Between the Bingo rounds, door prizes were awarded to attendees by drawing their name. Midway through the evening, a raffle drawing was held for a Nintendo Wii won by an excited Dot Paladino, who had earlier proclaimed “I never win anything.” The total value of the prizes given during the event was $5,741.90. The prizes were generously donated by individuals and businesses in the community. “We were elated with the success of our first Big Bingo Bash and are already looking at dates to host the event again next year,” stated Amber Childers, OTC Director of Development. A special thanks to the sponsors for the Bingo Bash: Young’s Health Mart, KBOK/KLAZ, Joe Keith, Malvern Daily Record, MNB Bank, Southern Bancorp, Southern State Bank, Summit Bank, Winner’s Circle Convenience Stores, Roger and Deborah Coomer, Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union, Stephen Efird, DDS, Food Center, Grayer Electric, Joe and Susan Karr, Kindy & Elliott, CPA, Lisenby’s Jewelry, Regency Funeral Home, US Bank, Wal-Mart and Western Sizzlin.
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