Casino Night raises $18,000 for Palmyra High School arts programs

Casino Night raises $18,000 for Palmyra High School arts programs

Posted on October 20th, 2019 by Scott Warnock

PALMYRA, NJ – Arts programming at Palmyra High School (PHS) will receive a boost of $18,000 following a Casino Night community fundraiser organized by the school’s education foundation.

The October 5th event was the third annual Casino Night conducted by the Palmyra High School Foundation for Educational Excellence (PHSFEE). This year, working with the PHS administration, PHSFEE targeted its fundraising efforts on the arts. In the first two Casino Nights, the organization raised a total of $30,500 for the sciences, using those efforts to also secure several science-focused grants and equipment donations.

Casino Night 2019 was the result of a volunteer effort led by event co-chairs Christine Murnane, a PHSFEE trustee, and vice president Jim Riley. Working with the rest of the PHSFEE trustees and a core planning group, they organized numerous community volunteers and many PHS Interact and student council members.

“We were really happy to focus on the arts this year,” said Murnane, “It’s a lot of work, but the results are more than worth it.”

Riley added, “We’ve become increasingly creative in how the event is planned and conducted. Casino Night helps get the word out about PHS and provides tangible support for the children of community.”

Over 30 organizations and individuals sponsored Casino Night, led by major event sponsor F.C. Kerbeck. Other big sponsors included Barclay Insurance, McDonnell Real Estate, Parker’s Flowers, Renaissance Promotions, Riley & Sons Moving, the Rosica family, ShopRite, and Unlimited Comfort.

Attendees had an enjoyable evening playing while working for a good cause. As in 2017 and 2018, Tumbling Dice conducted fun casino games and barbecue restaurant Sweet Lucy’s catered. Once again, Sacred Heart generously donated its gymnasium space and local company Gemini Linens donated napkins and tablecloths in PHS colors. And, of course, attendees could enjoy the PHSFEE Fizz specialty drink.

The 200+ people in attendance played casino-style games like blackjack, Texas hold ‘em, roulette, and craps, exchanging chips for tickets that they used to bid on nearly 40 creatively assembled (and named: “Surf and Turf” was a restaurant gift certificate and passes to the N.J. State Aquarium!) prize baskets and prizes, many of which were donated by local individuals and businesses and reflected the arts theme of the evening.

There was also a 50/50 drawing, and the winner this year received $2,010. (The 2018 winner won $1,300.)

Community members and supporters in attendance included PHS principal Lisa Sabo and “celebrity” bartenders included teachers Jennifer Van Zandt and Lorita Foster. Board of education and council members from Palmyra and Riverton attended and contributed. Former PHSFEE trustee Lisa Jablonski organized a stunning gallery of student art.

PHSFEE was established in 2016, according to its bylaws, “to create community partnerships, and to acquire and distribute funds and other resources for the purpose of” supporting PHS.

PHSFEE will donate the funds at the December public meeting of the Palmyra Board of Education.

Author Bio
Latest Posts

Scott Warnock

Scott Warnock is a writer and teacher who lives in South Jersey. He is a professor of English at Drexel University, where he is also the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education in the College of Arts and Sciences. Father of three and husband of one, Scott is president of a local high school education foundation and spent many years coaching youth sports.