By Charly SHELTON

t’s that time of year again. Time for drinking, dancing and playing the tables, all for a good cause. Our Lady of Lourdes School is hosting its third annual Casino Night at Angeles National Golf Club on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. This year’s theme is “A Masquerade Evening,” and it looks to be a great event.

“The casino night is going to be at Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland,” said Linda Martinez, president of the Parent-Teacher Organization. “It’s cocktail attire. We’re going to have silent and live auction items, raffles and, obviously, casino gaming and dancing and music. [Proceeds will go] to benefit the school.”

This annual fundraiser goes a long way to helping the PTO get more for its children. This year’s goal is fundraising towards their technology initiative, to hopefully get personal laptops, Apple computers and other various technological tools which can greatly increase the opportunities that teachers and students have in learning.

“Right now we just don’t have the infrastructure [to buy all new computers]. You know, it’s just not at that level yet,” Martinez said. “So that’s what we’re raising money towards and it’s hard to get funding for that because we’re a private Catholic school. That makes it even harder. I think a lot of Los Angeles area schools are able to get that, but we have to do it by fundraising.”

And what better way to support a great cause? The event includes appetizers and a cocktail reception, a sit down dinner and dessert, as well as live music, dancing, the aforementioned casino games, live and silent auctions and raffles. Each ticket, at $65, includes $500 in gaming chips with an option to purchase more should luck not be in your favor. There will also be a poker tournament with a $25 buy-in.

Supporting school children, a fancy dinner and a night of gambling at one of the area’s most beautiful venues. This “Masquerade Evening” sounds like an event not to be missed. For more information or to purchase your tickets, visit ourladyoflourdes.us.

  Charly Shelton