Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County will host its annual Night at the Races from 6-11 p.m., Feb. 10, at Nick Abraham Auto Mall, 1111 E. Broad St. in Elyria.
Holly Brinda, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County, said the Night at the Races is the organization’s largest fundraising event of the year.
“It’s an opportunity for members of our community to come together to support youth in Lorain County,” Brinda said.
For $50, attendees get dinner and beverages and can learn about the organization and its various programs, she said.
There will be plenty of fun activities like raffles and auctions, and people can place bets on virtual horse races can to win cash and prizes, Brinda said.
“It’s a lot of fun, and people really enjoy it,” she said. “It’s great entertainment, and if you’re unfamiliar with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County it’s a chance to have fun and learn about a great nonprofit.”
Brinda said you can visit the organization’s website to buy a ticket or donate.
Sponsorships for the event still are rolling in, so interested companies also have the opportunity to participate.
Brinda said the event has been highly successful in the past and that the organization is hoping for another big year.
“We had a big turnout last year, and we’re hoping to have an even bigger turnout this year,” she said.
While much of the emphasis is on having fun, the goal is for people to learn about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County, Brinda said.
“We love to see people have fun but also provide an environment for us to share our mission and how people participating helps children in our county reach their full potential,” she said. “Mentoring for our children in Lorain County really does make a difference.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County awarded 21st Century Learning grants
One of the new programs the event will provide information on is the Big Futures college readiness initiative, which works with students from five high schools in Lorain County to help prepare them for life after high school.
Brinda said some companies learned about it through the Night at the Races event last year and decided to get involved with the program.
Events like Night at the Races are great for making connections, she said.
"It's not only a fundraiser but a friend-raiser," Brinda said. "We have new people who are introduced to the organization who might not have thought about mentoring or helping with other things before."
