Money on the table

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GREENFIELD — You don’t need to know the secret knock or a password to get into this speakeasy; all you need is a ticket and Lady Luck at your side for a night of philanthropic fun.

FUSE (Families United for Support and Encouragement) presents a Roarin’ ’20s Casino night at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Michael’s Family Life Center, 519 Jefferson Blvd.

The funds raised from the event go to help FUSE, an organization dedicated to providing programs and resources for children with disabilities.

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Your $50 ticket at the door includes dinner, chips for game play, snacks, two adult beverages and an evening of win-win gambling.

“It’s not like a casino where the house is trying to win,” said Amy Borgmann, founding member of FUSE and the organization’s development director. “FUSE wins when people buy tickets and attend.”

The evening begins with a catered buffet including pasta, chips, salad, a dessert and snacks. A cash bar is also available for this over-21 event.

After dinner, attendees can spend their chips on the roulette wheel or games such as blackjack, craps or Texas Hold’em. Winnings are paid out in raffle tickets for chances to win prizes like a Michael Kors purse (valued at $300), a Pampered Chef package, a quilt t-shirt and gift certificates to local restaurants and attractions.

Fedoras, flapper dresses and 1920s attire is encouraged, especially if you plan to visit the photo booth.

Borgmann’s son, Jacob, 21, is living proof of the positive impact of programs provided by organizations like FUSE. Born with cerebral palsy, Jacob is in a wheelchair and unable to walk on his own. But in the swimming pool during FUSE’s adaptive swim program, the buoyancy of the water helps him stay upright and keep his balance.

“He took his first independent steps ever in the FUSE adapted swim program,” Borgmann remembers.

FUSE has enlisted the assistance of the Broad Ripple Sertoma club, a service organization whose specialty is assisting other service organizations – like FUSE – in fundraising with gaming events and casino nights.

Organizations pay Sertoma on a sliding fee scale based on attendance at the event. Sertoma then turns around donates proceeds to their causes.

Chuck Roach, a Sertoma volunteer, is the pit boss for FUSE’s Casino Night. Roach is proud of the professional approach his volunteers take in presenting a casino night. They go through training to learn the rules and proper etiquette for blackjack, craps and Texas Hold’em. They are very familiar with the card rules, he said.

“Our dealers all dress alike in black bow ties, red vests and black slacks,” Roach said. “It will fit very nicely with the speakeasy theme they have.”