By Giovanni Roverso
The fourth annual Pirate athletics fundraiser night at 7 Cedars Casino, held on Feb. 17, was a huge success according to Peninsula College Athletics Director Rick Ross.
While the most ever made from such a fundraiser before was about $8,000, the February event netted more than $25,000, said Ross, providing more than half of the $46,000 annual Peninsula College fund raising need for scholarships.
He said about $15,000 came from about 200 ticket sales at $75 each.
This year included a “fund-a-need” for on-the-spot donating which raised $7000. “I was really thrilled about that,” Ross said.
Five items went up for live auction and 20 items were in a silent auction.
About $3000 worth of the gross fundraised money was used for event expenditures including fees for Comedian Brad Upton.
Auction items such as an autographed Russell Wilson jersey was auctioned off for about $1300, as well as partial funding for a seven night stay at a resort in Mexico, which was auctioned off.
“This is one of two signature fundraisers that we do in addition to individual donations from members and sponsors of Pirate Athletic Association,” Ross said.
The Pirate Golf Tournament, PC’s other signature fundraiser, falls on June 4th for golf this year.
“Mitch Freeman, Tim Tucker and the P.A.A. advisory board organized the event and did the heavy lifting, I just showed up,” Ross said.