Chehaw Park and Zoo’s casino fundraiser event sees success for second year

ALBANY — The sound of ’80s hits and the smell of hors d’oeuvres filled Chehaw’s Creekside Center Thursday night as more than 100 people filled the venue for its “Black Jack & Black Rhinos” fundraiser event.

It was the annual event’s second year raising funds for the International Rhino Foundation, which works to conserve rhinos in 10 different countries through grant and field opportunities. Last year, the park was able to raise $2,100. While officials are still waiting to total up the funds from Thursday’s event, Chehaw Executive Director Morgan Burnette said she believes the park raised enough money to be able to help IRF reach its $10,000 goal to purchase Wildlife Crime Investigative Kits, which provide equipment to help officers collect evidence to prosecute wildlife crime cases.

The park participates in the Southern Black Rhino Sustainability Program, which supports conservation initiatives for the long-term survival of these animals. Not only does the park have a resident Black Rhino for visitors to see and learn about, but it sends money to conservation and breeding programs to help support the animals in the wild.

Chehaw hosts a number of fundraising events in the community, but officials at the attraction said they wanted this night to stand out from the rest.

“We wanted to choose something that is a little bit different,” Burnette said. “Everybody loves gaming. … It was just a natural fit that the community seemed to love.”

After the success of last year’s Casino Night, staff at the park knew that it had to become an annual event.

“We decided this will be our signature fundraiser for the foreseeable future as long as it’s popular,” Burnette said.

Guests were able to gamble for a good cause and enter Las Vegas without ever leaving southwest Georgia, she said. The event saw new faces as well as returnees from last year.

“We’re pleased with last night’s turnout,” Burnette said. “Everybody who came out had a great time. The casino dealers always do such a good job.”

Glittering dresses and strappy sandals mingled with dapper suits as guests were transported to Las Vegas for a night of drinks, music and casino games like blackjack and roulette. They gathered around gaming tables, watching intently as “dealers” shuffled cards. They were quick to shout and fall into laughter at unfortunate hands and pump their fists for lucky ones.

Couples teamed up or shared food off to the side, watching the gamblers. Friends and attendees of all ages chatted over glasses of wine and beers. Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” among other songs, brought people onto the dance floor.

Jarrett Johnson, a 25-year-old Macon resident, traveled to the park with his plus-one for the night, Olivia Cleveland, 23. He works for Invision Technologies, the middle and south Georgia company that sponsored the event.

“It’s cool to know the park and activities like this exist so close to home,” Cleveland said.

Johnson said he grew up in the Albany area and visited Chehaw frequently as a kid. His father, who worked for the city, helped unload the rhinos off the truck at Chehaw, he said.

“It’s nice to see the park continue to have events like this,” he said.

The park offers unique opportunities to the community, Johnson said, adding he appreciates the native representation it brings to the area as well as the animal and conservation education it offers to young people in the area.

“It’s the closest place to see a cheetah in southwest Georgia,” he said.

Fundraisers like these help keep the attraction running. While Chehaw is donating money to IRF, funds raised also will go to the care and upkeep of animals at the park, Burnette said.

Attendees paid $75 for admission, food, drinks and “casino bucks,” as well as submission into the raffle that was revealed at the end of the night.

“We had some big winners and somebody left either with a good time or a big prize,” Burnette said.

Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan

Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan