Casino night to raise funds for school
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

SOPHIA FISCHER/Acorn Newspapers SCHOOL FRIENDS- From left, Sheila Irwin, Lori Yacobian and Kat Pellicano show off some prizes, including a guitar autographed by members of REO Speedwagon, to be auctioned off at the Casino Royale fundraiser. The event, sponsored by Friends of Oak Park Schools, will benefit the Oak Park Unified School District.

There will be plenty of gambling at The Canyon club in Agoura Hills on March 25, but it will be for a good cause- - kids.

Friends of Oak Park Schools is hosting Casino Royale at 5 p.m. that Sunday to raise funds for the Oak Park Unified School District.

Besides games like blackjack and roulette, the evening will feature dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions. Partygoers can win a Windstar cruise; vacation accommodations in Hawaii, Telluride, Colo., and Mazatlan, Mexico; a one-hour helicopter tour; tickets to several primetime television shows; autographed guitars by such groups as REO Speedwagon; and gift certificates to local retailers.

"This is a really fun event for the community to get together, see old friends and meet new ones," said Kat Pellicano, a Casino Royale organizer. "We want to stay on top of educational standards. We're trying to provide our children with everything they need to excel."

The event's success is especially critical because of insufficient funding available to school districts, said Lori Yacobian, chair of the event. Education foundations like Friends help support school programs such as music instruction that might otherwise be cut due to lack of money, she added. Compounding the problem, Oak Park is home to few businesses from which to seek donations.

"We need the community support more than ever because we don't have the business support," Yacobian said.

A number of local retailers and businesses have donated items for the event.

"We're so grateful for the amount of support we have received," Pellicano said.

Friends of Oak Park Schools is a nonprofit group made up of residents who raise funds to supplement educational funding in the district. Last year the group raised $51,000, which went toward saving the music instruction program from cuts.

The group's plan is to maintain financial support for each program adopted, adding a new program each year.

"Our goal is to have $1 million in reserves so we can use the interest to fund things perpetually," Yacobian said.

Casino Royale is the Friends' biggest fundraiser of the year. Last year the group held a basketball expo called "Slam 'n Jam." The year before there was a golf tournament.

"We're trying to be diverse in the different events we offer," Yacobian said.

Event sponsorships are still available, Yacobian said.

For tickets or more information, call (818) 735-3270 or visit www.friendsofoakparkschools.org.