The District 39 Educational Foundation’s 8th Annual Bingo Night took place on Saturday, February 26th from 6-8 pm. Due to the COVID pandemic, this was the second year that the foundation hosted the event virtually on Zoom. This popular evening of family fun attracted over 80 families across the district’s schools. Emcees Mike Lieber and Dave Lundy kept players engaged and excited throughout by mixing up games and announcing multiple winners and prizes.
Co-chairs Nancy Schumacher, Beth Karnes, Stephanie Reich, and Jolie McLaughlin, planned and executed this year’s Bingo Night. “We were excited to enjoy a fun night of virtual Bingo with so many District 39 families this year. Many thanks to our Bingo committee for creating a fun, get-together on a very cold February night. Next year, we hope to be back in person again!” said Nancy Schumacher. While merging a virtual platform with a live, multi-family event is not easy, the team learned from and adapted to challenges faced by last year’s event chairs and pulled off a successful evening.
On the night of the event, local Wilmette restaurant, JP’s Pizza and Grill offered Bingo participants a 20% discount on any food purchased. To add to the fun, some lucky Bingo winners received gift certificates contributed by other local restaurants including Convito Café and Market, Lefty’s Pizza, Napolita, Pescadero, Pit and Tap, Torino, and Valley Lodge Tavern. Foundation Trustees also donated gift cards from Dunkin Donuts, Homer’s Ice Cream, and Starbucks to the delight of Bingo winners with a penchant for sweets and caffeine. This year’s grand prize winner, the Sniader family, celebrated with $50 cash.
Bingo Night was a fun event shared by family and friends and raised almost $4,000 to support the District 39 Educational Foundation. All net proceeds from the Bingo Night benefit the foundation’s Gripp Grants which provide funds for innovative educational programs, experiences, and technologies that expand, enrich, and complement the schools’ curricula.