Bingo
bingo VOLUNTeers needed!
Working at BINGO is easy, FUN, and offsets the many expenses associated with our marching, jazz and symphonic band.
If you are interested in getting trained for any of these positions please contact the Band Boosters Secretary at gmhsbandboosterssecretary@gmail.com. The more people who are trained, the less frequently each person needs to work, so please consider volunteering today!
About BINGO Night
Every Monday night, GMHS Band Boosters host a BINGO session at Slammers Bingo. This is an ongoing fundraiser for the band program and we invite everyone to join us!
BINGO in Colorado:
is a state licensed and closely monitored fundraiser for non-profit organizations.
Each organization is, in a sense, operating its own independent business - purchasing supplies, renting a licensed facility, maintaining financial records, advertising, providing a volunteer workforce, paying taxes, etc - all in accordance with Colorado State Gaming Laws.
Key information:
Doors open at 6 pm; bingo games begin at 7:30 pm. Sessions usually last about 2 hours.
It is cash only. We cannot accept credit cards, Venmo, or anything else.
Must be 18+ to purchase games and collect winnings but anyone age 8 and above can play. Each player must have their own receipt.
There is a $10 'buy-in' and then each bingo packet is $1.00. So you can play for as little as $11.00!! There are also machines for electronic bingo cards. Packages for those range from $30 - $60.
BINGO games:
We play 7 BINGO games each night. Each has their own design such as Lucky T, Diamond, and Blackout with varying payouts ranging from $100 - $1100.
All games except the progressive are double action, so there are 2 numbers per square instead of 1. This increases the chances of winning as either number called in that square earns that box.
Game 6 is our single action progressive game. The progressive game carries over money from each session until someone gets BINGO with 52 balls or fewer - a prize often worth several thousand dollars! If no one wins after 52 balls, the game continues and the winner gets a consolation prize of $200.
Progressive "MUST GO" - when the progressive pot has grown large enough, the organization can do a "must go" night. This means that no matter how many balls it takes to get a winner, they will win the entire amount of the progressive.
The Pickle Bar: The Pickle Bar provides players additional opportunities to win at BINGO as well as play other games. Here players can buy additional game sheets for "special" games, side games, and pull tabs, which vary each session.
Specials: Three of the games we play each night are considered "Special" with additional play sheets available for $1 or $3). Payouts for these special games vary from $300 to $1100 or even more for the progressive game.
Side Games: These are games which are played alongside a regular bingo game. Side games can earn anywhere from $100 to $500 depending upon the game. Side game tickets do also have some instant winners which can be redeemed right away for cash or additional tickets - instant winning amounts vary.
Pull Tabs: These are stand alone games (no bingo caller involvement) that are similar to scratch off lottery tickets. Pull tabs can win $1 to several hundred dollars.
Why Support BINGO?
In short, BINGO is:
Fun
Profitable
An easy way to support our band community
As you know, running a full band program is expensive! Sadly, district funding of non-core learning areas has decreased even as expenses continue to rise. The GMHS Band Boosters 501(c)3 non-profit organization provides volunteers and funds to support our students’ music performances.
Previously, the Boosters raised $30,000+ for the band program through 20+ fundraising events throughout the year. Two years ago, the Boosters Board decided to pursue hosting BINGO nights as the primary fundraiser to increase the amount of money raised while eliminating time-consuming and less profitable fundraisers.
And what a stellar increase it has been! In the first year, we raised a record $39,397 - just from BINGO! These funds are already making a huge impact:
Offset student fees for marching, jazz, concert, percussion, and wind ensembles
Purchased a set of instrument instructional books for the bandlibrary
Purchased new color guard flags and uniforms
Looking towards future band program needs, such as instrument repairs and upgrades, sound systems for marching band and the band room, and more!
We are grateful to the many students and families who have committed an incredible amount of time working to get BINGO up and running smoothly! However, we need additional families to step up and volunteer.
As students graduate or leave the band program, we need new and returning parents to sign up as Cashiers and Pickle Bar volunteers or as trained leaders. If every band family signed up to volunteer, no one would have to work more than once a quarter! While we love our extra-committed families, it’s unsustainable to rely on them to show up every week all year long. Learn more about volunteer roles.
Questions? Reach out to Boosters President Sarah or Treasurer Julie.