Local Woman Brings ‘Quarter Mania’ to Maryland for a Good Cause

Quarters, paddles, earrings…the game can be confusing at first, but once the players get involved, they’re hooked.

Judy Gue, Quarter Mania coordinator is also a one-woman show, planning, signing up organizations, getting vendors on board and growing the number of fundraisers she holds, from one in 2008 to more than 30 this year, including a recent event at South Carroll High School.

After realizing how much Longaberger basket fundraisers cost organizations to run, Gue took a tip from her daughter who discovered "quarter mania" fundraisers happening in other areas.

“We spent about $2,000 in baskets when we did our basket bingos at the fire department. You have 200 people fighting for 25 baskets. Here I always have a minimum of between 70 and 95 prizes at each event and the organizations don’t pay one cent for any of those prizes to be there,” said Gue.

“You can ask any organization I go to and they will say they don’t have to put anything up front. If they don’t have the money to hold a fundraiser, it doesn’t matter.”

The rules of the game start with a paddle, $5 for two game paddles if players reserve a seat ahead of time. On arrival, participants receive numbered bidding paddles.

When an item of interest comes up for bid in the front of the room, players place the appropriate number of quarters for that item in a bowl on the table in front of them and raise their paddle.

Once bidding is complete, Gue reaches into the bin of ping-pong balls and pulls a number. Whoever holds that number and has a bid on that item wins.  

“It sounds complicated but it isn’t at all. Once the first round goes around you’re an old hat. You’ll have so much fun,” said  Gue, who is also an EMT for the Mt. Airy Fire Department,

For Gue, this is a passion. She doesn’t make extra money by coordinating events or spending her days organizing the event and her weekends running the auctions.

“It’s a win-win for organization and that’s my goal, that the organization makes money and in turn I know that I’ve had the feeling that I’ve helped people. It thrills me to help others,” said Gue.

For more information on attending or holding a Quarter Mania event, contact Judy Gue at jcgue116@hotmail.com.