The Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority girls and other members of the community played binga to win Longaberger baskets Wednesday night.

Binga is like bingo but with a name change to abide by copyright laws.

The Tri Sigs hosted their third annual binga event at the VFW in Charleston to raise money for their chapter and the Robbie Page Memorial, the Tri Sig’s national philanthropy.

The Robbie Page Memorial donates money to hospitals to purchase toys to be used in play therapy for hospitalized children.

About 100 people were in attendance. Most participants were women, but a few male students came to show their support.

Emma Proccoli, a junior accounting major and fundraising chair for the Tri Sigs, said each girl had to sell three tickets for their chapter, which currently numbers 88 sisters. Tickets cost $10 to play 14 rounds of binga. She hoped to raise over $2,500.

The VFW hall was rented to them free of charge along with donating the stompers to mark the binga cards. The VFW holds weekly bingo nights and had the lighted bingo board to fit the binga players’ needs.

Money was also raised through a bake sale open throughout the night. Participants could also purchase an intermission binga card at an extra cost to win larger basket prizes. The Last Chance Binga game came at the end of the night and the prize was totaled at $164.

The binga rounds kept players on their toes because they had to watch out for special plays. Every round had a different way to win. Some rounds were marked by the traditional play to win bingo, and others used an “X,” “L” and “T” patterns or cover the whole card to make the play interesting.

The sorority spent $1,200 to purchase the Longaberger baskets, which are handmade in the U.S. Local business also donated items, such as free tanning sessions appealing more to college students.

Kristi Keck, the Longaberger consultant, picked out the basket prizes. She has been doing this for the past three years to help the Tri Sigs and for the incentive of playing binga.

“Binga has been a big fundraiser lately,” Keck said. “Everyone loves binga. Plus it’s also a way for the people in the community to connect with the sororities because a lot of people in the community come.”

Tami Babbs from West Field came with 11 of her other friends who have gone to several other Binga events before, one just this month in Casey, Ill. Babbs and her friends came because Babbs’ daughter was in the sorority.

Kim Evans, Babbs’ sister, said they sought to have a girls’ night and to get out of the house. Several thought they would give their prizes away as Christmas presents, especially some of the students.

One of the few gentlemen at the event, Erik Rusk, a junior in graphic design, won a basket. He had no idea what he was going to do with it.

Proccoli, the organizer of the binga event, was hopeful for the fundraiser, but said she had big shoes to fill.

“Last year we were awarded for donating ($6000) the most money out of all 109 chapters. So it is a really amazing cause,” said Toni Radzik, a senior corporate communications major and president of the Tri Sigs.

“It was hard to plan an event I never had been to before because I had joined after the binga event last year,” Proccoli said. “Kristi helped me out a lot though, she was my life line.”

Other problems she ran into included the sudden death of Bob Beavers, a Charleston resident, restaurant owner and well loved member in the community for his activity in fundraisers through his barbeques. He served barbeque pulled pork sandwiches at last year’s binga event, and was to do the same Wednesday night. He died last week, and Proccoli had to make quick arrangements to supply other refreshments.

Margaret Davis from Westfield appreciated what the Tri Sigs have done.

“I think its great young kids take such an interest in helping others when they are in college and have such busy schedules,” Davis said.

Emily Veach, a junior psychology major, marks off a called number while playing “Binga”, a fundraiser for the Robbie Page Memorial hosted by the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, at the Paul McVey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Wednesday evening.

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