The economic crisis may have most people living frugally, but Boston University students were gambling like high rollers at the School of Management Casino Night on Saturday.
SMG’s annual charity fundraiser raised over $2,600 for Boston Medical Center, SMG Class of 2009 President VB Suresca said. Organizers were pleased with the turnout, with more than 250 tickets sold before the fundraiser began and more than 100 more sold at the door, SMG Class of 2009 Vice President of Marketing Katrin Eurich said.
‘Because of the economy, we were really worried that people wouldn’t want to spend money on events,’ Eurich said. ‘This is above and beyond what we expected.’
Guests traded their tickets for red plastic cups containing vouchers for $30,000 worth of chips at the door and then had their choice to play blackjack, roulette, craps or the lucky wheel.
At 11 p.m., the tables closed and chips were exchanged for raffle tickets, with prizes including two Boston Bruins hockey tickets, a Tiffany & Co. necklace, a Sephora gift basket, a VIP table at Wonder Bar in Allston and gift certificates from California Pizza Kitchen, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Express and Landry’s Bicycles.
Though tickets sold quickly, the economy was an obstacle when it came to getting companies to contribute prizes, Suresca said.
‘Within this economy, it’s been way more difficult than any other year,’ Suresca, an SMG senior, said.
Volunteer David Lewis, who distributed extra chips to dealers when they needed more and made sure guests acted appropriately, said he was glad students came to Casino Night because students have so many other options of what to do with a Saturday night.
‘Kids have a lot of choices,’ Lewis said. ‘It’s nice to see the good turnout.’
SMG student officers said they hoped guests would leave with a greater awareness of BMC’s economic situation. BMC President and Chief Executive Elaine Ullian announced Dec. 17 that the center would have to cut 250 jobs in order to make up for state budget cuts and cuts in Medicaid funding.
Eurich said SMG student government, which chose BMC as the fundraiser recipient through a committee vote, wanted a hospital or research center to receive the funds. One of the main reasons BMC was chosen to receive proceeds was its reputation as the largest safety net hospital in New England, she said. A safety net hospital provides a high amount of care to many low-income and uninsured patients.’
‘We’re donating money to a cause that everyone can relate to,’Eurich said.
SMG junior Yolanda Hamilton said she attended the fundraiser looking for a good time, but the fact that proceeds went to charity was gratifying.
‘I was going to come regardless, but the fact that it’s going to charity makes it feel better,’ Hamilton said.
SMG junior Rishi Doshi said he enjoyed the fundraiser’s theme.
‘This is actually a really cool concept,’ Doshi said.
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