By MEGAN HUSSEY
[email protected]
When guests attend the Summer Night Cash Bash, an event presented by Senica A/C and the Hernando Builders Association, Saturday, Aug. 21, they stand to win more than $11,000 in cash prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize. Food and music, fun, and prizes will also be up for offer at this event, to be hosted by Marvelous Marvin 6 p.m. to finish at the Hernando County Shrine Club, 13400 Montour St., Brooksville.
As they enjoy festive dance music, gourmet food, and the chance to step inside an exciting Grab the Cash Machine, guests also will grab the opportunity to lend vital support to a community agency that helps so many families in need.
Ability Tree in Spring Hill (https://abilitytree.org/florida/) is a nonprofit organization that offers family events, parents’ nights out, and fun and constructive art and sports activities for kids–many offered in a new, 2300 square foot clubhouse.
“Our mission is to reach out to families impacted by disability through recreation, education, support, and training (R.E.S.T.),” reads an agency mission statement. “We aim to partner with individuals and organizations to raise awareness and build support networks to strengthen and grow able families.”
Ability Tree Florida launched in the Fall of 2017 with a monthly respite night for parents of children with special needs, and soon grew to include an after-school program for children with special needs, so parents can receive a daily break as a caregiver.
“The funds donated from the Cash Bash will allow us to expand the number of hours of respite we can offer these families,” said Wayne Cordova, CEO/Co-Founder Ability Tree Florida. “Our client base has increased so much, and we have after-school and weekend programs.”
Many programs are housed in Ability Tree’s new clubhouse, a 2300 plus square foot structure located at 3033 Landover Blvd., Spring Hill. The clubhouse features a sensory room to calm children in attendance, plus a play area with new equipment.
Nita Beckwith-Melaugh, Chief Executive Officer of the Hernando Builders Association, said that Ability Tree is a worthy beneficiary for the third annual Cash Bash.
“Danny Smyth, first vice president of the Hernando Builders Association, said that his daughter had volunteered for Ability Tree and that it’s a wonderful organization,” she said. “They do amazing work and are a blessing for local families.”
The centerpiece of this fund-raising event will be a fun cash machine feature. Guest tickets will be entered into drawings throughout the evening, with drawing winners claiming the opportunity to make a cash grab inside the machine.
“A person walks into the cash machine for 15 seconds, and they keep what they catch,” Beckwith-Melaugh explained.
Additional cash and other prizes will be up for offer, including a $10,000 grand prize. Guests will enjoy a dinner of roast pork loin, cornbread stuffing, roast turkey, and carrots served in a buffet-style fashion.
“We’ll have free beer,” said Beckwith-Melaugh. “And a cash bar.”
Popular DJ Marvelous Marvin from Hits 106.3 will emcee the Cash Bash, which will feature the musical stylings of event DJ Richie Sanvenero.
“He’ll play dance music,” said Beckwith-Melaugh, “to keep us moving.”
And as guests dance, eat, and win, they’ll be supporting the work of a family organization that in turn supports so many; and an association that–beyond homes–builds a strong, ongoing record of goodwill and community service as well.
“We do everything we can to support the community,” said Beckwith-Melaugh of HBA, which in the past has hosted fund-raisers for Operation HeartF.E.L.T., a local organization dedicated to providing nutritious meals to students and their siblings on weekends, holidays, and extended school break periods, K9 Partners for Patriots, Apraxia Kids for children with speech difficulties, etc. “It’s part of our mission.”
Wayne Cordova agrees.
“HBA does a lot more than build homes in this community,” he said. “They build up this community.”
Get tickets for the Cash Bash at the HBA Association, 7391 Sunshine Grove Road, Brooksville; call 352-596-1114 or write [email protected] for more information. Tickets at the HBA office cost $75 for a single ticket or $100 for a couple, a price that includes dinner for one or two, and one entry into the grand prize drawing. Register online at www.NatureCoastBuilders.Com, under the events tab. Tickets are available through Aug. 13.
