About
11 or 12 years ago Charlie took me to a complex of buildings
that were nearly falling down. It was the form Don Bohn
dealership. He told me that it was going to be the home
of Gretna Bingo Palace. It was in such disrepair that
I thought they were going to tear it down and rebuild,
but instead the work started to repair and remodel.
Gretna Bingo Palace, as we know it know, was the result.
More
than a bingo hall was built; a whole neighborhood was
revitalized. From the Expressway to Porter Street on
Franklin and Hancock Streets has undergone major change
and all because of bingo.
I
had a friend in the Optimist Club. An offer to the Optimist
to host bingo at the new Gretna Bingo Palace was made
and the club was very receptive, but they needed someone
to run the games. Charlie said that he had someone in
mind and the someone was me. That was really good for
the Optimist Club and Gretna Bingo Palace both because
Sylvia was my wife and Michele my daughter and I think
that their presence in the hall has made a difference.
It certainly made a difference to the Optimist Club.
We
have done good things with the proceeds from bingo.
The Optimist Club works very closely with Representative
Toomy to do the Westbank Doll & Toy. Representative
Toomy organized this event procuring the gifts and making
arrangements to assemble the toys. The Optimist Club
provides some labor and most of the money.
Other
major projects that are supported, in whole or part,
by the Optimist bingo:
•
The gift of a Sherman Tank to the D-Day Museum
• A major supporter of the Leukemia Foundation
• A supporter of Camp Challenge (a camp for cancer
kids and their siblings)
• The Bridge House
• Electric scoreboards at several area playgrounds
• A very sophisticated scoreboard at Alario Center
• The organization and support of the Optimist
Baseball Tournament at the Alario Center
• The Sylvia Ricks Scholarship Fund
These
are not the only works of the Optimist Club, but none
would be possible without your support or the Gretna
Bingo Palace for providing us with the finest bingo
hall anywhere. Thank You!
