Grand prize of charity event is week’s stay in Colorado condominium

Barrister’s Bingo Ticket

The first Barrister’s Bingo, hosted by the Southwest Louisiana Law Center, is set for May 3 at the Pioneer Club, 127 W. Broad St.

Happy hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:15 p.m., and eight rounds of bingo at 7 p.m.

Mark Judson, law center executive director, said proceeds from the event support the nonprofit law firm’s mission of providing reduced fee services for those seeking legal assistance for family and civil law cases.

The signature bingo event that the Pioneer Club has hosted regularly since 1953 was an inspiration for the event, Judson said.

“It’s a casual family-night event where (Pioneer Club) members gather,” he said. “We’re sort of combining a long-standing tradition and ramping it up a bit.”

Pioneer Club-Style Bingo has evolved since the club first considered bingo as a signature event in 1953.  Sixty-five years after the Pioneer Club instituted bingo, members still look forward to monthly bingo night.  They play bingo on the same cards their parents and grandparents used. Pictured above with the vintage cards are Mark Judson, center, and Pioneer Club legends Lannie Williams and Betty Bertrand.

Special to American Press

The SWLA Law Center just

celebrated its 51st year in business. Judson said the bingo fundraiser is a way to keep them sustained for another 50 years.

“We think a healthy-functioning civil justice system leads to healthy communities, schools and good government,” he said.

The grand prize is a week’s stay in a Crested Butte, Colo., condominium. Other prizes include a weekend stay at camp in Big Lake; a guided duck hunt in Cameron Parish; two overnight stays at Delta Downs; a basket of 12 premium wines; and other door prizes. 

A local celebrity will call each round of bingo, including former Lake Charles Mayor and state Sen. Willie Mount, longtime Pioneer Club member J.B. Postelle, Nora Papillion with Delta Downs, and Craig Doland with Hight-Doland Allstate Agency.

Tickets are $100 each, or $750 for a table of eight guests. They can be purchased online at swla-law-center.com through the link, “Bingo Fundraiser.”

More than half of the 20 available tables have been sold so far, Judson said.

Attire is business casual. For more, call Lisle Porter at 436-3308.

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