Foundation takes a gamble on first major fundraiser

The Hill City Area Community Foundation (HCACF) hosts its first major fundraiser, a casino night, to be held at the Diamond Spur Event Center Oct. 14.

The Hill City Area Community Foundation was created to provide financial support to charitable and nonprofit organizations in the Hill City area.  It achieves its goals by creating a foundation fund whose interest can be used in perpetuity to distribute grants for applying-organization projects. 

Thus far the HCACF fund has acquired all of its funds through the donations of community residents and businesses.

 Lori Enders, who sits on the foundation advisory board, said the casino night fundraiser is a way to give the fund a jump start.

“We really did get a fast start,” she said about the initial fundraising for the foundation. With initial momentum subsiding, the casino night is a great way to not only remind community members about all the things that the HCACF does for the Hill City area but also to solicit more donations that ultimately will go back into the community. 

The casino night was Enders’ idea. She wondered what the board could do to generate new investments into the fund. She was also looking for a fun fundraising idea when she recalled that while she lived in Arizona she’d been to a few casino nights with proceeds benefiting local firefighters. 

She brought the idea to the HCACF board, which really liked it. The board thought about hiring a professional fundraiser but then did not like the idea of spending money that it didn’t have to, so instead it formed different committees and everyone pitched in to make the casino night take shape.

The hardest part for Enders was finding a casino game vendor. She had no idea where to start and Googling such a vendor led her to a bunch of dead ends.

“I spent all winter looking for someone who would provide casino games,” she said, and said she was getting nowhere. But at the same time she was determined.

While speaking with a woman at the state’s attorney’s office to make sure that this event wouldn’t break any laws of entertainment-style gambling she received a tip that the Rapid City Knights of Columbus St. Therese Catholic Church provides just the type of casino night games Enders was looking for.

“They not only provide the games but people from their membership serve as dealers,” says Enders.

The partnership is a win-win for both groups.

“I love knowing that we’re spending money with them for entertainment and it’s going right back to whoever the Knights of Columbus chooses for a nonprofit,” Enders says.

The HCACF casino night will feature two craps tables, two roulette tables and multiple blackjack tables all manned by Knights of Columbus group members. There will also be a live auction hosted by Brent Morris. Morris himself will be auctioned off  at the end of auction, donating two hours of entertainment to one winner.  Other live auction items include a pheasant hunting trip, a rock climbing outing, a custom made fly fishing rod, kayaks and trailer, various overnight stays including one at the Double Diamond Ranch and a Pack Mule gift certificate.

There is a cash bar along with appetizers and hors d’oeuvres donated by various local restaurants. A sweet tray from Turtle Town, which Enders said had never been asked to donate to a local event, will also be available.

People attending are asked to dress anywhere from business casual to semi-formal.

“We really want folks who will bring their checkbooks or cash,” said Enders, explaining that the evening is only for those over 18.

A silent auction featuring various local artwork will be included in the night’s events 

HCACF board members will show a slide show showcasing various projects that the fund has helped support. 

“We want to honor the people who applied for and received grants from the fund and to build up the momentum to do more,” Enders said. 

Some of these projects include a new flag pole at the Hill City Center, a cistern watering  system for the community garden at the Community Lutheran Church and updated kitchen appliances at St. Rose of Lima.

The Hill City School District art department, the Hill City Friends of the Library, the Hill City Evergreen Garden Club, and the Black Hills Film Festival have also received grants from the  HCACF fund.

“The  board is really putting forth a lot of effort to make the fund grow,” says Enders. “We don’t want to rest on the money we’ve already had generously donated.We can do more with more money and we can continue to do really great things for this community.”

Last year the fund gave out $10,312 in grants

“We as a foundation are overwhelmed with gratitude from all the people who have donated so far without any major fundraisers,” said Enders. “We can do so much more in the community by having major fundraisers. We can ensure the foundation’s cash balance continues to grow.”

Enders hopes that this event will create not only awareness but also more generous donations for the HCACF fund.

The HCACF Casino night begins at 5:30 and tickets can be purchased at eventbrite by searching “Hill City Casino.”