Kiwanis Club makes a bet on Valentine's Day in Monte Carlo

The Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key took a gamble last year, when it introduced a Las Vegas casino theme to its annual Valentine’s Day celebration. But the bet paid off: The group raised $22,000 that aided the club in its mission of helping local youths in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

This year, organizers are rolling the dice again, but they aren’t going to Vegas, baby. The event is titled “Valentine’s in Monte Carlo: Dinner Dance and Casino Party.”

Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and games such as blackjack, roulette and craps. Each attendee will receive approximately 15 chips and can purchase more throughout the evening. Unlike last year, when games were limited to after dinner, attendees can gamble throughout the evening.

The event will also include dinner, dancing and music by The Big Z Band.

At 10 p.m. players will cash in their chips for raffle tickets, which are also available to purchase for $25.
“People will buy raffle tickets to win prizes, and, in doing so, they are also benefiting the youth in need in the Sarasota and Manatee area,” said Kiwanis Club President Armando Linde.

Prizes include a Universal Orlando Resort VIP experience for six with a two-day, three-night stay at the Royal Pacific Resort and limo service to and from Orlando; one-week stay at an RCI condo anywhere in the world; golf package weekend stay at the Resort at Longboat Key Club; four-course lobster feast for 10 with wine at Lazy Lobster of Longboat; Champagne and caviar sunset cruise for six on Bob and Shannon Gault’s 31-foot cruiser; an autographed first edition book by Longboat Key author H. Terrell Griffin; family photo session with Mary Lou Johnson; full-day deck boat cruise from Cannons Marina; and many others.
Organizers hope the odds are in their favor of beating last year’s fundraising total of more than $22,000.

But if you’re planning to make a date of the night, waiting to purchase tickets is a risky bet. Last year, the event sold out, and tickets are selling quickly again this year, organizers say.

BARGAIN TICKETS
A roundtrip coach ticket to Monte Carlo from Tampa-International Airport to the Monte Carlo Heliport that departs Feb. 14 will cost at least $5,300, according to cheapoair.com.

Tickets to the Valentine’s in Monte Carlo: Dinner Dance and Casino Party are a bargain in comparison: $95.

Purchase tickets at the Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce, 5390 Gulf of Mexico Drive, or SunTrust Bank, 510 Bay Isles Road.

For information, call Jim Larson at 383-1660.