Preschool Raises More Than $2,000 for Community Playground Fund

Blackjack, poker, roulette and plenty of other casino games kept more than 100 people entertained during Friday night's four-hour casino fund-raiser.

All the proceeds from the adult event went to support a children's cause: raising funds for the Tot Lot Playground Fund.

Hosted by , the event raked in $2,300 and was a big success according to school owner and director Karen Armstrong.

"We're thinking we'd like to do it again," she said.

Armstrong said playground equipment can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000. She was unable to say how much is currently in the fund.

When it comes time to replacing the school's current playground set, Armstrong said they don't plan to just demolish it.

"We want to donate it to a Third World country that could actually use it," she said.

Participants paid $25 for presale tickets and $35 at the door. Both got $50 worth of gambling chips to play with. For those feeling lucky, an additional $50 got them in on the Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament.

For every 100 chips, players received a raffle ticket and a chance to win donated gift baskets, gift cards and even a 32-inch flat-screen television.

One mother had lady luck on her side that evening. She won the "50/50 raffle" and walked away with $813 — half the money collected from selling all the raffle tickets. She donated $200 of her winnings to the playground fund.

Free babysitting was provided for all parents who attended the event.