Reverse raffle to help fund scholarships

Photo

Special to The Vindicator

TEAMWORK: With the support of other members of Yo-Mah-O Chapter of IAAP, area businesses and individuals, from left in front, Laura Malloy and Christine Simone, chairwomen, and in back, Joyce Laska and Nancy Brunner, chapter members, are confident the “Big Ten” reverse raffle fundraising dinner on March 1 will be a success.

YOUNGSTOWN — Yo-Mah-O Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals has chosen “Big Ten” as the theme for its 10th annual reverse raffle scholarship fundraising dinner on March 1 at Antone’s Banquet Center, 8578 Market St., Boardman.

Cocktails will be available at 4 p.m. and a buffet dinner will be served at 5.

More than $4,000 in cash prizes will be given away during the evening, and there will be a Chinese auction, a 50-50 raffle, a miniboard raffle, and a cornhole-toss event.

The 100 raffle tickets have been sold in advance, but dinner-only tickets are available for $25 each and may be reserved by calling (330) 652-1784 by Wednesday. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the chapter’s scholarship fund.

Background

The Yo-Mah-O Chapter was chartered in 1946, and it awarded its first scholarship of $200 to Alice Stavik in 1950. The award was increased over the years to $750, and in 1997 the award was increased to $1,000 and named in honor of a charter member, Edna J. Pickard, who died that year.

In 1999 the chapter voted to award two scholarships of $1,000 each, and in 2005 voted to rename the scholarship the Yo-Mah-O Chapter IAAP Scholarship. This year, the chapter will award three scholarships of $1,000 each.

Generous support

Through the generosity of members, supporters, and area businesses, Yo-Mah-O Chapter has awarded approximately $25,000 in scholarships since the first reverse raffle took place in 1999.

Christine Simone and Laura Malloy, co-chairs of this year’s raffle and dinner, are being assisted by Marlene Dailey, Tracy Goad, Lynn Romeo, Chris Bidwell, Milissa Ferraro-Gahagan, Joyce Laska, Nancy Brunner, Andrea McConnaughy, and Kim Sheward.

For more information about the chapter, visit www.yomaho-iaap.com.