Annual Casino Night a BIG Benefit by Kelly Koehler - City News Group, Inc.

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Annual Casino Night a BIG Benefit

By Kelly Koehler, Community Writer
July 16, 2014 at 08:44am. Views: 37

On June 27, over 300 Inland Regional Center (IRC) consumers and families gathered for a night of glitz, glamour and community fun at the center’s 9th Annual Monte Carlo Night fundraiser. The casino-themed event raised nearly $1,000 in funds to support social outings, trainings and events for IRC’s Consumer Advisory Committee (CAC), a consumer-run advocacy group for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and intellectual disabilities. IRC’s CAC gives consumers age 16 and older monthly opportunities to “mix, mingle, be heard, and belong.” Funds raised at events like Monte Carlo Night support activities such as health and wellness trainings, “Coffee Talk” at Starbucks and participation at community events such as the Inland Empire 66ers Disability Awareness Night at San Manuel Stadium. The CAC was integral to the success of this year’s event. “Monte Carlo Night is a fun event that our advocacy group looks forward to year after year! We are grateful for the efforts of everyone involved to make it happen and can’t thank everyone enough for the funds raised to help the CAC,” said CAC President Ryan Nelson. Partner sponsorships were donated from Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), People’s Care, Molina Healthcare, In-Roads Creative Programs, and multiple IRC board members made monetary and/or prize donations for the event. Volunteers from IRC, the CAC, In-Roads Creative Programs and the Foothill Foxy Flyers Roller Derby Team transformed the IRC conference room into a real casino - complete with Rat-Pack music, centerpieces made from playing cards, slot machines, decked out dealers and faux neon signs over each gaming area. Attendees played Vegas-style games including Black Jack, Bingo, Roulette and the Wheel of Fun. They competed to win tickets for prizes such as glow-in-the-dark necklaces and a few lucky winners went home with raffles prizes such as amusement park tickets, movie passes, and more. Attendees enjoyed a themed photo booth where they could don silly props and put on their poker face for the camera. The keepsake photos served as a memorable memento for all of IRC’s guests.

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