by Olivia Discon
Community. Fundraising. Bingo Daubers. Over the weekend, the LEAP Center had the pleasure of sponsoring a table at the Boys and Girls Club Oktoberfest Bingo fundraiser–a fun-filled event that contributes to a great cause.
The Boys and Girls Club of Walker County is a nonprofit organization which aims to provide programming and activities for the youth in our community. They do a fantastic job of engaging children in disciplines such as the arts, lifeskills, education, leadership, and fitness. They have served a total of 7,198 youth in Walker County, and 91% of their students in the last year were promoted to the next grade level. The Boys and Girls Club, under the impressive leadership of Michelle Spencer, recognizes the importance of engagement when it comes to community-wide impact.
The fundraiser also serves as a learning experience for LEAP students. Having an understanding of how a nonprofit can rally its community together is more nuanced than games and door prizes.
Not only is it an opportunity for the Boys and Girls Club to raise funds for their important programming, it is also an opportunity for community members to engage with one another, learn more about the various entities and organizations that make up that community, and in turn, inherently strengthen relationships and build consensus among them.
Many of our core values are the same, and regardless of generation, political ideology, or background, events such as these prove that community rises above all of those things.
BJ McMichael emceed the event…
…Kevin McMillian served as auctioneer …
…and there were numerous friendly faces in the crowd–in fact, too many to name. A few to note were Judge Tracy Sorenson, Judge Colt Christian…
…Mac and Leanne Woodward, Sam Houston Memorial Museum Director Derrick Birdsall…
…Brenda Poe…
…and of course, Michelle Spencer, the Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Walker County!
At our table, we had the pleasure of joining with Roxana Alvarado Martinez–a former participant and current success story of the Citizenship Preparatory Course that LEAP facilitates each spring. She is a great friend of LEAP.
Ten rounds of bingo ensued.
While Roxana and I tried to curry favor with the fates by creating fortune tellers, we unfortunately did not have any winners at our table. However, Stephanie and Sofia came pretty close a few times!
Slowly but surely, we began to lose hope. However, Yajaira, a recent SHSU graduate and friend of LEAP, won a door prize!
In all, our table had a great time of conversation, anticipation, and for some more than others…
…using the bingo daubers to create what can only be described as an abstract work of art in between calls.
We enjoyed supporting a great cause for our community and building connections and relationships with some new, bright students–which can be considered a win in and of itself!
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 