Supporting community medical care efforts at the upcoming Casino Night Fundraiser
When treating the ill of your community, you want a sure thing, not a roll of the dice. Providing medical options for the most needful of Polk County is the focus of the upcoming FourthAnnual Casino Night, hosted by the Polk County Medical Foundation and open to the community. The night promises fun gambling with play money while raising funds that directly support We Care of Polk County and the Polk County Medical Foundation. “Without help from the community,” shares Polk County Medical Association Executive Director Jackie Courtney, “We Care and the Foundation cannot give back to the community.”
Set for Saturday, October 25, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., attendees can buy tickets for $100 or $150 for two to get the chance to ‘break the bank’ and help raise funds for the low-income and uninsured of Polk County. A ticket buys play money for the gambling tables, a silent auction, music, a lavish buffet featuring shucked oysters and two drinks, such as the wine donated by PRP Wine International. While you can’t benefit from gambling in Polk County, attendees can use their ‘winnings’ to enter a raffle at the end of the evening for fun prizes.
An ace up the sleeve of this year’s fundraiser is Fields Motorcars Mercedes-Benz, at 4141 North Florida Avenue in Lakeland; they have generously donated their show room to host the event. The space will be turned into a grand ballroom. “This is our community,” says Ron Bigler at the dealership, “of course we are going to be involved and give back in any way we can.”
Following suit, all of the silent auction items are donated by local businesses as well, Courtney maintains, which creates “100 percent pure profit” for the PCMA’s charities. Courtney also gives credit to Texas Roadhouse, saying “they’ve been real good to us,” in donating gift certificates year after year. The PCMA is still also accepting donations for the event.
The event is a prime example of the circle of giving that goes on every day in Polk County to aid those without adequate medical care. Some physicians, like Dr. Dorsett, an ophthalmologist with Lakeland Eye Clinic, also donate during the event— at the silent auction and through sponsoring the event— to really give back. “He’s been one of our biggest supporters of this event,” extols Courtney. The fundraiser allows a lot of good work to been done in Central Florida— such as We Care’s life-saving specialty care or the Foundation’s educational activities to promote wellness— and when the community comes together to support each other, all bets are off!
For more ticket or sponsor information, please contact Jackie Courtney at (863) 644-4051 or email director@polkcountydoctors.com.
CREDIT
story by ERIKA ALDRICH