Courtney Kimmel said there are a lot of ways for people to participate in this year’s United Way All-In Event on Oct. 20, even if they choose not to participate in some of the ticketed options.
“United Way of Leflore County is really a funding arm for 13 local non-profits, and most of those would not be open without our assistance, so this is our biggest event of the year,” Kimmel, who is the executive director of the county chapter, said.
“They can come out and watch the tennis and golf tournament if they want to. It doesn’t cost anything,” she said.
The tennis tournament, sponsored by Greenwood Drugs, will begin at 9 a.m. at the Greenwood Country Club, and the golf tournament follows at 12:30 p.m.
Eight teams are registered for the tennis tournament and 18 for the golf tournament.
Tickets to the event are $25 per person, which covers participation in late-afternoon BINGO from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and entrance to the silent auction which rounds out the night, ending at 7:30. Draw-down tickets are sold separately at $100 apiece.
The draw-down, sponsored by Conerly’s for the second year and also to be streamed from the Greenwood Country Club via Facebook Live, is a drawing of 250 tickets, and the last ticket drawn wins a grand prize of $5,000.
“Every 25th ticket gets a $25 gift card to Conerly’s, so you really have a nine in 250 chance of winning something,” Kimmel encouraged.
“It’s fun. ... We have a big Excel sheet on the board that we take the numbers off as they go, and people start getting excited the last 25 tickets,” she added. Ticket-holders do not have to be present to win.
Bingo is once again being called by Lisa Cookston, a Greenwood City Council member. “Last year, we had 40 people participate and would love for that number to increase,” Kimmel said. There will be eight games, and each prize is worth at least $25.
The silent auction begins at 4:30 p.m., and will feature over $12,000 in items.
“With the auction, we’re really really fortunate to live in Greenwood where local businesses will support us. To come out and bid on things for the silent auction not only helps United Way; it helps the community as well. Even if you’re not buying directly from local businesses, you’re still supporting the local economy,” Kimmel pointed out.
Stacy Taylor, who serves as the president of United Way of Leflore County, said, “Local businesses have been extremely generous, and I am optimistic that this will be our best event to date.”
Additionally, the event will feature live music from Richard Owens.
This will be the seventh year for the All-In Event, which serves two purposes.
“The first is to raise money. The All-In event is the second biggest fundraiser we do. Last year we raised $62,000,” she said.
The money raised helps the United Way of Leflore County support various local agencies which would otherwise be hurting.
“The second purpose ... is to raise awareness. It’s important to us that people are aware of where their money is going when they give to United Way and what it does in our community,” Kimmel explained.
The agencies supported by United Way are ArtPlace Mississippi, Beacon Harbor, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the Greenwood and Mississippi Valley State units of the Boys & Girls Club, Community Food Pantry, Community Kitchen, Fuller Center for Housing, Greenwood Community Center, Leflore County 4-H, Leflore County Humane Society and Salvation Army. The title sponsor, Cannon Motors of Mississippi, is one of more than 60 sponsors.
“We hope everyone can come out and enjoy the event,” Kimmel said.
“Courtney and the board have worked hard on this event with the support of all of our sponsors and we are all hoping to see everyone there!” Taylor added.
For more information or to purchase a drawdown ticket, Kimmel can be reached at 662-392-3036 or uwolfc@yahoo.com.
Contact Katherine Parker at 662-581-7239 or kparker@gwcommonwealth.com.
