By AMANDA KIMBLE
TheFlashToday.com
UPDATE
ERATH COUNTY (August 22, 2016) – Heroes with Handbags: Designer Purse Bingo has been postponed. The event, initially set for Thursday, August 25, has been rescheduled for January 26, 2017, according to information posted by Paluxy River Children’s Advocacy Center.
The event will be held at 6 p.m. at City Hall at City Limits.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the advocacy center at 817-573-0292 or through the organization’s website, www.paluxyrivercac.org.
ORIGINAL STORY
ERATH COUNTY (August 17, 2016) – Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Cavalli… Designer handbags are known to turn heads of women young and old. And Paluxy River Children’s Advocacy Center (PRCAC) hopes pairing those names with the badges and nametags of about 20 first responders will draw a crowd to an upcoming event aimed at raising funds for the victims’ service agency.
Heroes with Handbags: Designer Purse Bingo is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, August 25 at City Hall at City Limits. Ticket holders and corporate sponsors have a chance to win any of 20 designer handbags, valued at $250 or more each, through traditional games of bingo.
Tickets are $50 per person and tables are $1,000 per sponsor.
“Each individual ticket holder will get 20 games of bingo and sponsors will be given 20 games for each individual at their 10-person tables,” PRCAC Executive Director Kerrie Stannell explained, adding attendees will have the option to purchase additional games to increase their odds of winning and up the proceeds for the area nonprofit.”
For each game, the prize is a gorgeous designer handbag donated by PRCAC board members.
A bonus round will be held with attendees having the option to buy a $100 chance at a handbag with a $1,000 or higher price tag.
“We will only sell a limited number of entries for the bonus game,” Stannell said.
Granbury-based PRCAC, www.paluxyrivercac.org, provides an array of services to child abuse victims in Erath, Hood and Somervell counties, with 19 board members from each of the counties overseeing operations. Services include forensic interviews of child victims; multidisciplinary investigations involving law enforcement, Child Protective Services, healthcare providers, prosecutors and PRCAC staff; case review; victim support and advocacy; and more.
During the fundraising event, the handbags will be displayed by a roster of models that includes members of the Stephenville Police Department, fire department and other officials. As of press time, the lineup included Stephenville Police Chief Jason King and several other law enforcement officials, including Jason Halsey, James Gresham, Doug McClammy, Paula Claunch, Orlando Gaitan, Pete Goodman, Jason Schipper and Jeff Walker. Area fighters Buddy Davis, Matt Parham, Clint Brown, Kade Watson and Brandon Lockenour will also participate in the event.
“Most – if not all – of the cases involving Paluxy River CAC begin with contact with law enforcement and other first responders,” Stannell said. “So we are excited to include them in the handbag bingo. Why shouldn’t they be part of it?”
All of the proceeds from the event will be used for PRCAC initiatives, including training and seminars for officials, first responders and other members of the organization’s multidisciplinary team.
“We are also working to expand our mental health services and counseling staff to provide more services for the kids,” Stannell said, adding new parenting classes are also being offered in Granbury. “We had to send staff members to get training.”
Stannell expects PRCAC to offer parenting classes in Stephenville in the near future.
“They are free for anyone in the community, not just parents and caregivers who are involved with CPS or on probation,” she said. “I have been through these courses myself and they have had a positive impact on my family and changed the way I parent.”
Heroes with Handbags will also attendees musical entertainment, heavy hor d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Singer/songwriter Courtney Patton will emcee the event.
Tickets can be purchased by calling PRCAC at 817- 573-0292 or through the organization’s website, www.paluxyrivercac.org.
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