Page 10, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, October 23; 1996 There 's.. n110'Hiding' the benef'its for charities By Mark Reesor Localcharities, .service and sports clubs credit bingo players with finane- mng many of the activities and projecte they conduct. The 52 members of Hideaway Charities have made more than $15 mil- lion over the last 10 years through running bifigos at HideawayBingpin Whitby. Many, 11k. Bob Foxton, head coach and--manager of the Ajax/Whitby Boxing Club, say bingo is a 1f.- saver. "It's been so good for our club... it allows me to charge the kids a minimu rate and help out those who can't afford it." The club has been operat- mng for almoot 30 years and really ohmuggled te get b before signing on with Ilideaway,hne says. «I remember putting on a show... and they guar anteed us a $1,000; if thyhadn't given us the money, we were alinost out of business... "l'y. got nothing but pra- is. for it.» Bingo moeyhas allowed Whitby sere clubs te help out amateur sports and make substantial con- tributions te municipal pro- jects, says HIideaway Chari- ties president Ken Corner. The. projects would other- wise have te b. paid for by taxpayers "or just wouldn t be there.» Corner, who's a member of the - Whitby Lions, notes his clubs' donations te, for example, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, hospital fund, walk- mg.trlland cornmunity percent bingo money.» He says they used te raise «maybe"$5,000. te $6,000 a year «now we're doin ouily 000).1 Bingo money allowed the. Brooklin commit Optimist Op timist Club te $20,000 te the Park, says club president Keith Wick. TIb. club also pays sports instructional HIDEAWAY BINGO president Dave Wood (right) looks on as Barry Samson HerongateBam Hilanious Snash Hit Cornedy Run For Vour Wife Thurs. thru Sun. until Nov. 2nd., Dinner, Show & Tares Starting at $32à .95 Clip this ad andSa$2.OO Thurs., Fn. & Sun. Onlyj Group rates availabie. For more information cail: (905)472-3085 2885 Atona Rd., Pictcenng gramis for local youth and ifor scholarships with the pro- $38,000 or so -- about 90. oeils out the bails at a meent afternoon bingo at the Whitby club. Photo by Mark Reesor, Whitby Free Pressa WVhitby Inn Restaurant & Sports BarI 2 LB WINGS & JUG SPECIAL Every night bar only Saturday&Sna NWACcPliBojer (DENIG ROOM' SPECIALS I Buy one'entrée at reuar I 4bprice get 2nd enté ATI1/2PRIcE E* u « tm« v W o We wM dihor e1r. cent Of its total fun- raimg - received from bInlasBioklinOctagon (y outh) Club used the $24,000 it made from bingo in 1995 for environmental, sports and social activities,' he adds. Bingo money has allowed the Serbian Ortiiodox Church on Byron- Street South te maintain its 140- year-old building, sy member Dan. Orliéh. sy lb. congregation is very small -ïiust 28 members -- and oulretkeep its build- ing without the $13 000 te $1'000 it receiveÎd from running bino atyer Orihsays. Bingo operators are changing te meet the chaI- lenge presented by the operung of casinos in -Wind- sor and Orillia,' says' Hideaway Bingo president Dave Wood, who's also vice- president of the Registered Gaminl gSuppliers of Most bingo players aren't atra ted tetable, games such as blackjack: and 81raps, he'says, but they like st machines, which have cut fite the bingo market. «People go upte I(Casino) Rama once and they blow a month's worth of' bingo prizes, he says. Flaunted hou Shivers Haunted House will b. at the Kids' Safety Village in Whitby Oct. 26 te 31. lb. popular haunted house was located for three years in Ajax and willmove inte tth. largest building at the village, located behind Kathleen Rowe Public School,. Athol Street (at 401). Saturday and Sunday hours -are 3 te 10 p.m., Monday te lbursday hours; are 7tol10p m. lbere wil also b. a varietyof displays and acti-' vities: face-pantingpu fitl),m . kin-carving (nighI Bear, Bert and Ge-t the Stay Alert (Stay Safe money in one felI swoop,» he explains.11 lb. number of people Rlainl bingo hias also drope from the peak year Of 1990. lb. ROSO is fighting back b developing a sys- tem wich wille ectroni- cally link al the bingo halls in OntarioP allowin-g them te, offer "ega-jckpots" of betwen $25000 and $100P000 te compete with lotteries and big 'ackpot slot machines, saysWod lb. assoiation is work- ing with the Ontario Lot- tery Corporation te get the !tem u -ad runningby Febrarye sysaddng itfsprobaLly the first ie a government agency has worked with free enterrse te create funding for cýhari- ties. The. lnk will also allow bingo operaters te develop other games te attract new players, says Wood., Hideway is also hoping te have electronic bng pames on-lin. by mid- November. Tii. autemated mâchiâè offer gaines whichlast ony~ 30 seconds or on. minute and operate on a "share- the-wealth- basis;- whr, a" set percentage Of the moneyr played is-, returnd in, Ise at -villagye characters from Canadian 'Tire Child Protection Foun- dation), 3M relective material demonstrations; refreshinents. On Thursiday, Oct. 31 (Halloween), the first 1,000 children under age 12 will get a.treat bag. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for those'aed 16 HallowFest is a 'safe' alternative A HallowFest for kids up tae nine will b. held at AIl ans Anglican Church in downtewn Wlhitby* on Halloween night, Oct. 31, 6:30to 8 p.M. Described by orgaflizers as a «safe alternative» te traditional Halloween those attendn (no coat are encouraged te, wear "non-violent, non-occuit" costumes. There* will b. games, pzetreats and boot ba1 at the event for kids 0h must b. accompanied by theïr parents. b edl the parish hall (Kent Street entrance).:.1 FPor . more information, cail Nanicy at 571-0958.