By Mary O’KEEFE

On Friday, bingo daubers will be at the ready as the second annual bingo night sponsored by the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars gets underway.

The event is held inside Healy Hall at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Montrose. This is the second year organizers have held a bingo night fundraiser. Last year’s bingo night was successful in raising money to help support construction of the Two Strike Park War Memorial Wall. Memorial wall organizers had struggled for a few years in their fundraising efforts due to the economic downturn. About two years ago, veterans joined forces with community members and organizations and began raising money again for the memorial. Last year’s bingo event was one of their many fundraisers.

Since a majority of the money for the wall’s construction has been raised, proceeds from this year’s event will benefit other areas.

“This year the proceeds will go to several [veteran] programs like the VA (Veterans Administration) Hospital, Wounded Warriors and the Glendale Community College Vet Club,” said Mike Baldwin, member of the American Legion and VFW.

The funds will also be allocated to the Verdugo Hills Boy Scouts, Boy Scout Troop 288 and JROTC [at Crescenta Valley High School] and to a scholarship program sponsored by the two veterans’ groups.

“Admission [to bingo night] is $10 which gives you two cards for 10 games, “ Baldwin said.

All games are being sponsored for $100 each. The sponsors for the event include the Davis family, J’s Maintenance, Crescenta-Cañada Rotary Club, Integral Engineering Services, CV Chamber of Commerce, Bob Smith Toyota, Mook Apparel, Crescenta Cañada Lions Club and La Crescenta Kiwanis.

There will be food and drink available for purchase at a reasonable cost with the proceeds also going to the veterans’ groups.

  Mary Okeefe