Melissa D’Onofrio
On Feb. 17, the PebbleCreek Irish American Club held its first-ever Mardi Gras Casino Night—and what a debut it was! One hundred and seventy-five joyful members and guests filled the ballroom for a completely sold-out evening of laughter, celebration, and unforgettable fun. In fact, every ticket was claimed three weeks before the event, with nearly 30 more people hoping to get in after the sell-out. The excitement was undeniable!
While our club is widely recognized for its generous charitable donations and student scholarships, this special evening was designed with a different purpose in mind: pure fun. Event Committee Chair Janice Goodwin envisioned a night where members and friends could relax, connect, and simply enjoy themselves. With the full support of our previous Club President Terry Roth, the committee was given the creative freedom to bring that vision to life—and they delivered beyond expectations.
The ballroom buzzed from the first roll of the dice to the final spin of the wheel. Guests tried their luck at classic casino favorites while also enjoying wildly entertaining, one-of-a-kind games expertly designed by our very own talented committee members and built with a little help from their friends! The crowd favorite? The unforgettable Human Slot Machine—equal parts hilarious and ingenious—that kept both players and volunteers laughing all night long.
The décor transformed the ballroom into a festive Mardi Gras dream, complete with colorful banners, flashing lights, dazzling tables, and prize and snack displays that rivaled a professional casino event. Many guests wore colorful Mardi Gras masks, beads, and outfits.
Joan and Steve Fafoglia shared: “It was our GREAT pleasure to attend Casino Night! The fun and surprises just kept rolling all evening. What classic décor! A huge standing ovation to the entire planning committee. Your attention to detail was unmatched. Bravo!”
Club President Patricia Cornett added: “Ladies, you created such a fun evening. Compliments floated around the room all night. Volunteering as a Human Slot Machine was a blast—I laughed so hard my face hurt! As a member, thank you for creating such a special event. As Club President, thank you for your dedication from start to finish. It was a BIG winner!”
Even more exciting? Many guests shared that after experiencing the evening’s camaraderie and energy, they plan to join the Irish American Club.
The evening ended with the awarding of valuable gift cards or cash prizes. Some lucky winners won prizes as large as $250.
This incredible success would not have been possible without the hard work and creativity of our dedicated Event Committee: Chair Janice Goodwin, Trudy Chambers, Meg Chrisman, Melissa D’Onofrio, and Donna Strand. A special thank-you to Donna Strand, Realtor with Realty ONE Group, whose generous sponsorship funded the wildly popular Human Slot Machine, festive banners, and promotional gifts.
Kudos also to Gary and David Magnesun for expertly building the Human Slot Machine, along with the 12 spirited volunteers who operated it and the strong-bodied crew who transported and assembled it. It truly takes a village—and our village generously showed up in mass!
Most importantly, thank you to the 175 members and guests who brought the energy, laughter, and Mardi Gras spirit that made the evening unforgettable.