Margie Sovacool, backed by two generations with daughter Kelly & granddaughter Maggie, may well call upon some family help for the 2024 Dinner/Reverse Raffle. (Photo courtesy of Phyllis)
2024. Assembled guests bow their heads for the blessing before a scrumptious meal at Guy’s Party Center. (Photo courtesy of Paul Moeller)
On Thursday, September 19th, Friends of Camp Christopher celebrated another successful Dinner/Reverse Raffle at Guy’s Party Center in Akron.
2024 marked a new era in our 11-year-run of Reverse Raffles. Patti Longville, having overseen the first ten events (in-person and online) pinned her Chairperson badge on Margie Sovacool for this year’s event. Margie bravely accepted the role and, with the assistance of many generous volunteers, made sure the evening was a success. Watch this spot for a summary of the evening’s activities (and our take!).
A Brief History
2014. President Irene Wagner & Committee Chairperson Patti Longville welcome the good Friends of Camp Christopher like the Thomas Family seated here.
Sept. 18, 2014. Greeters at the registration table with FoCC president Irene Lawrence (r) were Chris Walker and his mom, CJ.
In 2014, Friends of Camp Christopher was barely two years old and looking for a fundraising event to help generate dollars for the donations the organization wished to make to Camp Christopher. The CYO and Catholic Charities of Summit County had used a dinner/reverse raffle over the years to consistent success. When, in recent years, Catholic Charities explored other fundraising venues, FoCC decided to revive the event. Patti Longville & Tim Lilley, with FoCC president Irene Lawrence, had attended many such events over the years and had a good working knowledge of how to undertake and organize such an enterprise.
2014. A multigenerational assembly of songleaders guide dinner guests through a medley of “Easy Come ,Easy Go / Have Fun / If You’re Convinced.” (l to r) Patti Longville, Tim Lilley, Kelly Haslam, Terry Lilley, Neil Durbin, Casey Thompson, Jon Reiman & Matt Brenner.
On September 18, 2014, about 125 Friends gathered at the Slovene Center in Barberton, Ohio, for the FoCC’s Dinner/ Reverse Raffle. 100 tickets had been sold for the $1000 grand prize drawing. Along with other dollars generated through sideboard and raffle activities, the generous gathering helped the FoCC raise $3,912.00. The event was so enjoyed by the attendees that it was immediately christened “annual.”
2015. “Care to buy a chance to win two tickets to a Browns’ game?” Committee members Phyl Pigat and Sally & Jerry Antonucci find that it’s best to sell those chances early in the football season! (Photo courtesy of Paul Moeller)
FoCC repeated its success in September of 2015. With the addition of Chinese Auction items, the evening of fundraising camaraderie raised $4,100. For a second year, more than 100 participants enjoyed a good meal, relished reunions and good conversation, and joined in a short Camp singalong.
Patti Longville returned as Committee Chairperson for FoCC’s 3rd Annual Dinner Reverse Raffle, Thursday, September 15, 2016 at a new location, the K of C Hall on Glenmount Avenue in Akron, Ohio. Obviously, for so many of our Friends who no longer live in Northeast Ohio, it was not possible to attend (though a number of our sweet survivors made plans to be in town for the event). But that did not stop friends from buying a ticket (winner need not be present) and supporting the cause. Many of our ticket holders unable to make the events of the past few years have given their blessing to let a guest enjoy the dinner which is part of the ticket’s price.
We returned to the K of C Hall in 2017 and 2018, 120+ guests enjoying the fellowship, and so generously opening wallets and hearts in support of the camp we love. In both of these years we raised more than $6,000. Another aspect added in these past two events is a pause to remember those members of our Camp family who have passed away in the year between our gatherings.
2015. “And the winner is …” Rachel Thomas helps MC Tim Lilley draw the final numbers. (Photo courtesy of Tim Champion)
It takes a small village to carry out such an annual mission. Fortunately, FoCC again had a fine group comprising the 2018 Dinner/Reverse Raffle Committee: Tim Lilley, Sally & Jerry Antonucci, Phyllis Richardson, Michele Dolensky, Lizzy Flannery, Barb & Bill Marras, Barb & Tom Gannon, Kathleen Shippy, Janet Corey, Barb Hertrick, Kitt Kurtz, Dave Gates, Bernadette/Margie/Jim/Jana Sovacool and Patti Longville.
2016. FoCC Dinner Reverse Raffle guests have their ticket stubs at the ready as the drawings begin! We thank all of you Friends who, in body and/or in spirit, were part of our 3rd annual Friends of Camp Christopher Dinner/Reverse Raffle on September 15, 2016. The evening was a soul-soothing success, and our 100 guests enjoyed a great evening. (Photo courtesy of Dan Skowronski)
2017. CAMP CHRISTOPHER FRIENDS ENJOY DINNER WHILE CATCHING UP ON THE LATEST NEWS AND ANTICIPATING THE WINNING YET TO COME. (Photo courtesy of Paul Moeller)
Our 6th Annual FoCC Dinner/Reverse raffle took place on Thursday, September 19, 2019. 127 incredibly generous Friends gathered to celebrate Camp Christopher and generously contributed to our event which raised $8,o56.28 — precious $$$ to assist Camp. See our report on our 2019 winners!
2018. FOCC PREZ JIM “SUAVE” SOVACOOL GREETS GUESTS FOR ANOTHER MEMORABLE EVENING OF FELLOWSHIP AND FUNDRAISING.
In 2020, the COVID-19 health crisis caused Friends of Camp Christopher, like so many other non-profits around the globe, to adopt a pandemic version of our annual fundraiser. Unable to host our 7th Annual Dinner/Reverse Raffle as an in-person social affair, we conducted a raffle with the help of the USPS and online support. On September 17th, members of the Pandemic Reverse Raffle Committee met at Day Camp to conduct our abbreviated event. Due to the generosity of our participants, FoCC was able to award $2,500 in cash prizes . Congratulations to our winners Nancy Mannion ($50), Sara Sovacool ($75), Bobbi Helus ($100), Ellen Hirschman ($125), Jean Fahey ($150), Micki Trenta ($175), Sharon Migchelbrink ($200), Mariam Sovacool ($225), Kitt Kurtz ($400). Winner of the grand prize is Lindsey Coombs ($1,000), a son-in-law and husband to two former Christopher counselors (Pat Alexander Sarver & Danielle Sarver Coombs).
A big congrats, too, to the winner of our online auction for the Old Man’s Cabin painting — Dr. Joe Clark who won with his high bid of $600. Thanks to all of you for your support. The raffle and auction together helped FoCC raise $3,471.88!
September 17, 2020. The drawing is underway. FoCC President Jerry Antonucci shakes up the ticket stubs under the watchful eyes of Pandemic Reverse Raffle committee members Kitt Kurtz, Barb Gannon & Margie Sovacool.
On September 16, 2021, 5 members of the Reverse Raffle Committee, with FoCC President Jerry Antonucci, gathered at the Day Camp pavilion to draw the winners for our annual Reverse Raffle. 12 cash prizes, totaling $3,175.00, were awarded. Due to the generosity of Friends like you, our fundraising efforts netted $5, 701.18 !
2021. President Jerry Antonucci is primed to pull some winning tickets and Reverse Raffle Committee member Margie Sovacool is set to record.
Our Lucky Winners:
Sally Antonucci (#84) won $50. Allen & Lauren Seeley (#4) won $75. Jana Sovacool (#53) won $100. Michele Maas Dolensky (#114) won $125. Dave Golya (#35) won $150. Jerry Antonucci (#15) won $175. Dan Maas (#10) won $200. Mike & Mary Kay Sovacool (#5) won $225. Janet Corey (#89) won $300. Kelly & Sonil Haslam (#106) won $375. Alberta Schumacher (#108) won $450. Grand Prize winner Fr. Frank Basa (#50 – representing 50 years of service as a priest) won $1,000 !
Winner of our Browns vs. Lions football tickets for November 21st was Kathy Cable. Congratulations to all and so many thanks to all who supported our annual fundraiser. Hope to see you in person in 2022!
September 15, 2022. President Jerry Antonucci shakes up those ticket stubs under the watchful eyes of Kathleen Shippy & Kitt Kurtz. Good Luck Everyone!
On Thursday, September 16, 2022, FoCC conducted our 9th Annual Reverse Raffle event. At 6pm, Committee Chair Patti Longville’s crack team of President Jerry Antonucci, V-P Kitt Kurtz, Treasurer Larry Furman, Board Member Kathleen Shippy & member and past president Janet Corey drew and recorded the 12 winners. For the 3rd year in a row, we offered the chance to participate in the online auction of another Tom Mayer masterpiece: Mummy Cave. Congratulations Moe McGinty whose high bid of $300 made her a happy winner. Next year we hope to make this auction in-person. WE RAISED $4,606.52 FROM THIS FUNDRAISER. THANKS, EVERYONE!
2023. Tim Lilley encourages Jeanne McGuire to give a few good spins to the barrel as Dinner/Reverse Raffle committee members Phyllis Richardson, Chair Patti Longville & Kathleen Shippy look on. (Photo courtesy of Paul Moeller)
The Dinner/Reverse Raffle Committee breathed a sigh of relief as our return to an in-person event concluded in a satisfactory manner. On Thursday, September 21, 2023, at Guy’s Party Center in Akron, 100 Friends (representing Camp connections from the 1950s to the present) gathered to dine, to laugh, to reconnect, and to DONATE to our 10th annual fundraiser in support of Camp and its programs. The evening saw many winners. The last five ticket holders of the Main Board numbers (Ray Hildebrandt, Micki Trenta, David Corey, Sandy Gross & Sean Lilley-Longville) decided to split the $1,000 grand prize equally. The winner of the two tickets to the Browns vs 49ers football game was Sue Monroe Longville. Winner of the last CYO Camp Christopher road sign was Jim Conlon. Winner of the beautiful original watercolor painting – Lake Marian Sunset – by Tom Mayer was Kathy Prochnow. With the sideboards, a 50-50 raffle, Bingo cards, over 25 Silent Auction items and 25 Basket Raffle items, many friends went home winners! This year’s enjoyable event raised over $7,700.00 to benefit Camp Christopher. Thanks to all of our participants, donors and Committee members.
Go all the way or split?
2023. Two hot auction items! Photo courtesy of Paul Moeller
Thanks to those who have donated items to our Basket Raffle/Silent Auction.
Thanks to all of our friends who make these events such great fundraising successes.
This page is phenomenal, Tim! Great job!
Fabulous job, again; the evening was great fun. Amazing to see Ziga without a cap; wonderful to see all these Camp legends in one place, enjoying themselves and each other. You and all your people did a magnificent job from start to finish.
This site is awesome! I love the background sounds and music too! Peace, joy, and love to all Friends of Camp Christopher!
The “Christopher Spirit” truly “lives on in our love” and especially as we cherish and hold the memories deep in our hearts of those many GREAT spirits who have already “crossed over” ahead of us.
(Thanks, Tim & Patti, for the “OURchives” in book & internet forms!).
And you are a big part of that celebration of the past that helps us face the future uncertainties, Paul!