ROCHELLE — Preliminary planning is underway for the potential return of Small Business Bingo events in Rochelle in fall 2024 after its inaugural four events raised $18,853 for area nonprofits in 2023, Event Organizer and AP Massage Therapy Owner Ashley Patrick said at Jan. 23’s Rochelle Rotary Club meeting. 

Patrick came up with the idea of bingo nights in the community with prizes donated by local businesses to raise money for area nonprofits last year. The four events in fall 2023 raised money for Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center, HOPE of Ogle County, Foundation for Focus House, and The Kitchen Table.

The support by local businesses and the attendance of the events surpassed Patrick’s wildest expectations, as it saw 100 sponsors that donated prizes, raffle baskets and made monetary donations from the Rochelle community and beyond, and the first event saw 170 attendees with the following three seeing 250-300 people. Due to demand, Small Business Bingo had to move its final two events to the hangar at Flight Deck Bar & Grill, the largest event space in town. 

The Small Business Bingo events came at a cost of $15 per person for 10 rounds of bingo. Patrick said the events pulled in a larger group in the community to help nonprofits. 

“I saw a lot of our nonprofits really needing more help, like with HOPE of Ogle County seeing funding cuts and The Kitchen Table seeing issues with volunteers and keeping things going,” Patrick said. “I don't want to see us lose any of the good organizations that we're fortunate to have locally. I wanted to have something fun for people to do to get them involved and motivate them to want to give back. But it didn't have to be on a big scale. People didn't have to give hundreds of dollars to make a difference. My main goal was to do something that showed people that even a small gesture of $15 can help when so many people come together to be part of an event that's fun.”

Patrick said that due to the overwhelming support of businesses last year, she didn’t have to do much work seeking donations for Small Business Bingo in 2023. Many small businesses had people volunteer as well. 

For the 2024 year, Patrick said a hurdle will be finding volunteers to help her run the events by calling bingo, selling raffle tickets, and helping in other areas. Another challenge will be finding sponsorships to cover the large venue rental fees for each night of Small Business Bingo. 

The community has already been wanting to know when Small Business Bingo will return, Patrick said. 

“I've had a lot of people asking when the next event is going to happen,” Patrick said.  “I hope to bring it back in the fall this year. I was able to get exactly 100 donors for sponsors last year. I'm hoping with more time to plan, I can expand that in 2024 with not just prizes, but people volunteering or maybe even hosting more than four events. I want to be able to help as many of our local organizations as possible. If I can get enough people willing to help and sponsor, then I'm willing to put in the work and host as many of the events as people are willing to show up and play bingo for.”

The events in 2023 also gave the benefiting nonprofits a platform to let those in attendance know more about their causes and how they can help. The need for volunteers in the community and nationwide has been larger in recent years. 

Patrick thanked everyone who trusted her and helped her with the events in 2023 and said she’s excited for 2024. 

“I think what most people saw in it and why it grew was because it was about giving back first,” Patrick said. “It was getting the average person that maybe doesn't have the funds to normally feel like they could make a donation to a nonprofit, but they could still be involved and be a part of something bigger. We had hundreds of people show up and a lot of them came to all four events. The cost per person to play bingo was only $15, but look what we did. Businesses donated prizes and raffle baskets, but they were also here paying to play. Everyone really came together to show their support.”