By Caroline Carter 
News Editor
With their cheering, toe touching and tumbling, the Coppell High School Cheerleaders know how to pump up football fans. Even when there is no game, the CHS cheerleaders still bring the community together for some fun on Friday night.
One of the most popular fundraising events of football season is the annual Cheer Bingo. Though the event is still several weeks away, cheerleaders have been busy selling tickets to ensure the night is success.
“Cheer Bingo is one of the best parts of the fall since so much of the community comes out to support us,” senior cheerleader Kristin Anderson said. “At first the night is a little slow. After students show up, it gets really exciting since everyone wants to win. The senior cheerleaders also get to play a little, which is exciting for me.”
This year’s bingo is Oct. 4 from 6 – 9:30 p.m. in the Coppell High School Commons. In addition to bingo, pizza, water, soft drinks and desserts will be available for purchase during the evening. Raffle drawings will also occur periodically throughout the night.
“The atmosphere is very dynamic and alive,” cheer parent Michelle Pritchard said. “Students of all grades from kindergarten on up to recent graduates attend bingo night. We also have many parents and grandparents who attend and take their games very seriously. Each year Cheer Bingo grows significantly larger, and this year we anticipate that it will be one our largest crowds yet.”
Cheerleaders have been busy selling bingo and raffle tickets since the summer. Bingo vouchers are $15 when bought prior to the event and$20 at the door. The ticket includes 30 games. Raffle Tickets are $5 each. Prizes include an iPad Mini and Dallas Cowboys Tickets. Though each cheerleader is required to sell a minimum of 30 tickets, many have exceeded this.
“I ask anyone I can to buy a ticket,” Anderson said. “I ask neighbors, teachers, family friends and students. Most students buy raffle tickets since they are less expensive, but the prizes are still great. A lot of cheerleaders sell outside of grocery stores or at local businesses. Coppell is really supportive of Bingo. It gives people a chance to have fun on Friday even though there is no football game.”
With an event of this size, months of planning go into it so no detail is left behind. Under the direction of parents Nikki Jorski, mother of Landry Jorski, and Stacey Fadal, mother of Ann Kathryn Fadal, the bingo committee has put in hours of work to gain sponsors, advertising and speakers.
“This event is our largest fundraiser,” Pritchard said. “It truly requires many different parents and cheerleaders to work together to put this event together. Parents start meeting in the early parts of the summer to form committees, collaborate and hit the ground running. It is a huge time commitment. The cheerleaders spend enormous amounts of time selling tickets, broadcasting and advertising the event.”
In addition to ticket sales, local businesses sponsor the event. This year’s sponsors include Anamia’s, Steele Dental, Spirit of Texas and i Fratelli’s.
“The greatest part about bingo night is that it really is the community coming together for a fun activity during the bye week of football,” Pritchard said.
Tickets can be purchased from any cheerleader for $10. With this being the last year for senior cheerleaders to participate, it is a bittersweet time.
“I can’t believe it is my last year to sell Cheer Bingo tickets,” Anderson said. “I have a lot of great memories from Cheer Bingo. I loved when [former CHS Principal Brad Hunt] was the announcer and when it was my first year on varsity. I know this year will just as good as the past years.”
