Casino in the Cape: Tickets on sale now for charity event
Cape Coral charities will benefit from this year’s annual Casino in the Cape, presented by the Class of 2018 Leadership Cape Coral.
“We put a big focus to keep the money in the Cape Coral community,” said event chairman, Trevor Medenwaldt.
“It was important to the class this year to keep it in our local backyard.”
On April 5, attendees will feel like they’re in Las Vegas. The Cape Coral Yacht Club will be decked out in a James Bond 007 theme and feature a red, black and silver color scheme. Look out for casino games like craps, roulette and blackjack.
There will also be live music by the Killa-Watts. They’re known for performing at local charity events and band members are from the Lee County Electric Cooperative. The Killa-Watts play cover songs from Classic Rock favorites to modern-day country artists.
The event to be held from 6 to 11 p.m. this year began in 2011, it’s sponsored by the Gunterberg Charitable Foundation, and tickets are $65 per person.
They include dinner and $1,000 worth of “funny money.”
“Word of mouth gets around fairly quickly,” said Medenwaldt, who also is the branch manager at Achieva Credit Union. “People get excited about it. The ones that have done it before are excited to go again. People are looking forward to what might be different.”
Proceeds will go to the following charities: The New Beginnings, a local non-profit organization that helps homeless, single mothers get back on their feet; Blue Line Bears, a nonprofit with the goal of helping children of fallen Law Enforcement Officers cope with loss; Cape Coral Caring Center, an emergency food pantry for Cape Coral residents, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast – Highlands/Hardee Counties, which provides one-to-one mentoring services to more than 1,800 children between the 6 and 18 years old.
Medenwaldt expects 250 to 300 people to attend. Last year, he said 250 came out for a night of casino fun.
Last year, $16,000 went to charities. This year Medenwaldt said he just hopes to raise more than that.
“It’s a friendly competition with each class year to outdo the other one,” he explained. “We are targeting to get at least the same amount and we believe we are on track to do so.”
There will be an open bar where beer and wine will be available. The tips also will go to the charities. Guests have the option to purchase additional funny money as well. Any of the winnings that come from the casino will go into the grand prize raffle. The winner will win a casino package with Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee.
The grand prize package includes a 10-person dining experience served family-style by Chef Osmany Acosta. A limo will be provided to and from one destination for all 10 guests. The excursion will last six hours and each guest will receive $50 in free play.
At the event, guests can bid on items at the silent auction. There will also be a .5-carat diamond drop from Diamond Dave’s Creative Jewelry. The prize is valued at $2,500. Keepsake glasses will be available for a chance to win. One glass is $25, two are $40, and three glasses are valued at $55.
Medenwaldt said the bulk majority of planning began after the Leadership Class’s graduation in November.
“It seems like forever ago now,” he said.
Medenwaldt said the night is a, “very fun night out for a good value.”
“It provides people the opportunity to meet people within the community and network. It’s a really fun time to get out and enjoy what Cape Coral has to offer knowing you’re helping out charities centered in Cape Coral.”
For more information contact Trevor Medenwaldt at 239-471-3564.