Third annual Chance 4 Kids is Friday
The Saline County Advisory Board of Mentors 4 Kids will hold its third annual "Chance 4 Kids" event on Friday at the SIC Foundation Center in Harrisburg.
The event will feature dinner catered by the BBQ Barn, music from Brad & Bri, entertainment, auction items, and a prize giveaways including a cash give-away of up to $1,000. Ticket price is $50 per person. All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to Mentors 4 Kids, Inc., which provides caring, volunteer adult mentors for children who want and need a positive role model in their life.
Although Chance 4 Kids is a fundraising event, Angie Hampton, Mentors 4 Kids Saline County Advisory Board member and CEO of Egyptian Health Department, stresses that the real need is for volunteer mentors.
"Although Mentors 4 Kids needs donations to keep the program running, Chance 4 Kids is not just about raising money," Hampton said.
Several M4K mentors will share their experiences as part of the evening's presentations, Hampton said.
Dale Fowler, Fowler-Bonan Foundation, who is emceeing the event, elaborates, "Chance 4 Kids is really all about people stepping up to help a child. What we really need are mentors who are willing to spend time with a child and just willing to show some love to a child who needs it. And you'll be helping a child right here in your own area," Fowler said.
The highlight of Chance 4 Kids is a unique prize giveaway where the last eight tickets holders will have a chance to win all or a portion of a cash prize. A local sponsor has agreed to donate up to $1,000 if the organization is able to sign up 10 people to help mentor children. Along the way, the audience will have a chance to win other items donated by businesses and engage in fun activities designed to raise donations for the organization. The event will also feature auction items including the Rent One suite for 14 people at a Southern Illinois Miners baseball game, a round of golf at Victoria National Golf Club, several packages of St. Louis Cardinal tickets, Rams tickets, and other desirable items.
"This is a fun event," Fowler said. "I encourage everyone to come and enjoy a great meal, participate in our unique giveaway, and ultimately get a lot of valuable information on how they can make a difference in a child's life through Mentors 4 Kids."
Vickey Taake, Executive Director of Mentors 4 Kids, said that the organization currently supports more than 25 matches (child and mentor pairs), but has many more children on a wait list that need a mentor.
Chance 4 Kids is sponsored by KWR Consulting, The Fowler-Bonan Foundation, Harrisburg Medical Center, Farmers State Bank, Legence Bank, Taste of Southern Illinois, Dr. Larry & Janet Jones, Keith & Nina Brown, and Beck's Drugs.
Members of the Saline County Advisory Board for Mentors 4 Kids have worked to make Chance 4 Kids a success. Members include Tricia Johnson, Angie Hampton, Dale Fowler, Gabe Angelly, Gloria Tison, Sonny Dotson, Lauren Williams, Kathy Neal, Dr. Matt Buckman and Dr. Mike Handwerk.
For more information about Mentors 4 Kids, please call the Mentors 4 Kids office at 618-252-1012 or send an e-mail to mentors4kids@gmail.com. Tickets for Chance 4 Kids can be purchased from any Advisory Board Member, at Dream Baskets, WEBQ and Farmers State Bank.