
By Mikkel Hyldebrandt
On January 25, AID Atlanta invites you to enjoy a night of fundraising in the spirit of Monte Carlo meets Moulin Rouge. The Casino de Monte Carlo party will not only be a significant fundraising event for AID Atlanta, but it will give guests an experience of old-school glamour, gambling, and entertainment like none other. We spoke to Jon Santos, Director of Development at AID Atlanta, about what to expect at the Casino de Monte Carlo.
AID Atlanta has always been great at creating and hosting fundraising events – but this one is different! Can you tell us a little bit about the background for the Casino de Monte Carlo event?
This dressy, sultry, and sophisticated cocktail party will feature exciting casino gaming experiences with professional operators running tables for craps, roulette, blackjack, and slot machines. Guests will use casino chips, which can be traded for raffle entries to win incredible prizes, including trips, Blue Ridge Cabin Stays, and an Atlanta Staycation.
Guests will enjoy signature cocktails crafted by Tito’s Vodka and delicious hors d’oeuvres by Affairs to Remember. Cabaret-style performances will entertain throughout the evening, featuring singers, dancers, and magicians.
How did you come up with the idea for the swanky casino and nightclub theme?
We looked around the community to see what might be fun that isn’t currently happening. Casinos, gambling is fun. I see a mixture of the opening sequence of Sister Act, Casino Royale, 50 Shades of Grey, and Shirley Bassey’s Cover of “Get The Party Started” as part of our inspiration.
What can people expect at this event? Will there be gambling?
As you know, gambling with real money is illegal in Georgia, and while we will have professional gaming operators, craps, roulette, blackjack and slot machines with real ‘play,’ we will use funny money. At the end of the event, money can be turned into raffle prize entries.
Events like this raise necessary and vital funds for your programs. Can you elaborate a little bit on how the money raised will be spent?
Special fundraising events tend to be the most visible in our development program, and at AID Atlanta, our special fundraising events exist to help fund our prevention and care programs and services like our Free HIV and STI Testing and Treatment Program, Men Engagement Network (MEN), Sisters With A Voice (SWAV), and Emergency Assistance fund that helps those in the most dire need.
What if you can’t make it to the event? How can we support AID Atlanta otherwise?
Visiting www.aidatlanta.org/donatenow/ is the easiest way to give. Our friends may include the program or service they wish to support by leaving information in the ‘comments’ box. Supporting our life-saving work is instrumental to our continued efforts. With HIV Testing costing $25, and STI Testing running around $70, those programs are in constant need of funding.
Let’s return to the event – how do you get to attend? And will there be a dress code?
The link to purchase tickets online is www.aidatlanta.org/casino/. Pit Boss Host Admissions are $175 per person, and Player General Admission is $100 per guest. Captaining a table is absolutely welcome and encouraged.
Guests will enjoy signature cocktails and delicious hors d’oeuvres by Affairs to Remember. Cabaret-style performances will entertain throughout the evening, featuring singers, dancers, and magicians.
Anything else you’d like to add?
We invite you to please join us. The evening will be fun; we will raise funds to help fund our agency. Thank you for your years of generous support – AID Atlanta is by and of our community.
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Get your tickets for AID Atlanta’s Casino de Monte Carlo event at aidatlanta.org/casino.