By Tuulia Koponen

business/public relations manager

@tuulipia

Ever since varsity cheerleading coach Tiffany Ganss joined the Coppell High School cheerleading program in 2001 and even before that, Cheer Bingo Night has been a tradition; something always done to raise funds for the cheerleading program.

“It’s all done through the [CHS Cheerleading Booster Club],” Ganss said. “It’s our main fundraiser. The money  is used for competitions, or new mats like we did one year.”

A bingo committee on the CHS Cheerleading Booster Club heads up the event, with subcommittees for getting sponsorships, food, drinks, bingo cards and the lot.

Raffle tickets cost $5 and bingo tickets cost $15 which is valid for 10 games of bingo at the  event from 6-9:30 p.m. in the CHS Commons on Friday. Several raffle prizes will also be awarded to winners throughout the night.

“Sometimes [the big prizes include] a trip somewhere for ‘x’ amount of nights and it’s free stay; sometimes it’s a flat screen television-I think last year we actually did give away a television,” Ganss said. “For the smaller prizes, we try to get local businesses to donate.”

Cheerleaders are required to sell $500 worth of bingo cards prior to the event, while during the event greet guests as they come in, take orders for what the guests would like to eat, serve food to them if they would like, walk around and sell cookies, pick up trash and bingo cards, as well as sell bingo cards if guests would like more.

“They are like little waitresses,” Ganss said.

For Ganss, the event reminds her of good, old-fashioned family fun.

“Kids, really everybody, gets into the event-especially at the end when they are so close to getting a bingo and win that prize,” Ganss said. “It’s just really fun to see.”