Monday, November 24, 1997
Casino Night raises stakes, charity funds
FUND-RAISER:
Business Society event on the Hill helps Unicamp childrenBy
Pauline Vu
Daily Bruin Contributor
The Covel Commons Grand Horizon Ballroom was transformed into a
casino Friday night, complete with roulette, craps, poker tables
and dealers in black slacks and crisp white shirts.
However, unlike a Las Vegas casino, gamblers didn’t play with
real money, they weren’t there just to win, and all the proceeds
went to a good cause.
Casino Night was held by the Undergraduate Business Society with
the aid of the Sunset Village Residents’ Association.
UBS holds a charity event annually, and in the past proceeds
have gone to community groups such as Children of the Night and Big
Brothers of Los Angeles. This year’s proceeds will benefit Unicamp,
UCLA’s official charity.
The Unicamp program "gives children from the inner city a chance
to see the wilderness and experience things they wouldn’t otherwise
experience," said Brad Riley, vice-president of UBS and a two-year
Unicamp counselor.
Planning for the event began last spring. Kate Dunnett, a
third-year business economics student, and Amy Weisbrock, a
fourth-year business economics student, are co-directors of
Community Affairs for UBS and have been largely responsible for
organizing the event.
"People have been really supportive," Dunnett said. UBS had
donations from many different organizations and Westwood
businesses, such as In & Out, The Sound Factory and Maloney’s.
Prizes included Lakers tickets, free meals from various restaurants
and a free UCLA sweatshirt and hat from ASUCLA.
However, the two companies most instrumental in making the night
a success were Arthur Andersen and Robinsons-May. The companies
helped to cover such costs as the gaming tables.
"If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here," Dunnett said.
Arthur Andersen, a professional services firm that has targeted
students from UBS in the past, was happy to support the event.
Twilla Brooks, an assistant buyer at Robinsons-May, explained
why they chose to get involved.
"It’s a good cause and an opportunity for others to meet us and
get an idea of what we do in a relaxed setting," Brooks said.
Ken Pao, president of UBS, said the night was as successful as
he had hoped for. Raising $2,000 was the goal for the night, as
well as "giving the students an opportunity to have fun."
In addition to sponsors Robinsons-May and Arthur Andersen,
community-service groups such as Unicamp, the Bruin Belles and
Alpha Chi Omega gave their "time and dedication to make this event
possible," Pao said.
People who came to the charity event were asked to for a
donation of $5 and received $200 worth of chips. They could later
exchange these chips for tickets, at $25 apiece, to enter in a
raffle for prizes.
Players appeared to be having a good time, loudly cheering their
gains and moaning their losses. "Should I give you a tip or
something? Isn’t that what they do in Vegas?" one man joked to a
dealer.
However, unlike the smooth, professional dealers one might
encounter in Las Vegas, the dealers in the Grand Horizon Ballroom
taught new gamblers how to play, apologized for winning too much
and offered hints and advice.
"There are a lot of pictures here," said Chris Morris, a
third-year business economics student, tapping the kings, queens
and jacks he had just dealt. "Keep that in mind."
Morris was one of several volunteer dealers for the night and
had been a dealer before for UCLA’s Monte Carlo Night.
Many students came to support the event. Jesse Strutzel, a
second-year theater student, said, "Part of the incentive was the
prizes, but I like knowing that I’m helping out charity."
His friend, first-year biology student Jacob Childs, said, "I’m
having a lot of fun, even though I’m losing all my money." He then
bet all his money in a game of blackjack except for one $5 poker
chip.
"What’s that?" another gambler asked.
"That’s my insurance," Childs laughed and then looked shocked as
he won his hand and tripled his winnings.
Casino Night brought students, service organizations and large
corporations together for a night of "high stakes" in the name of a
good cause.
"Check this out," said Bobby Lee, a third-year biochemistry
student who played blackjack.
"I bet one hundred, split my cards, and got blackjack on both."
He laughed.
"Now what are the odds of that happening?"