YMCA $5,000 Dinner draws a crowd

Donors reach fundraising goal at unusual reverse lottery

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For the past 19 years the Kokomo Family YMCA has held the $5,000 Dinner, a fundraiser that is central to the organization’s annual capital campaign. But this year was a little different.

The lights didn’t seem quite as bright. The laughter wasn’t as full and freely flowing. But the generosity remained as strong as ever. As explained by the evening’s emcee, local Realtor Paul Wyman, there was something – or someone missing.

“I think this is something that would be very appropriate and something that we should do tonight,” said Wyman as he opened the evening’s festivities. “As you all know, this past year, (YMCA executive director) Trish (Severns) lost her husband, Tim, one of our biggest fans and supporters of the YMCA.

“Every one of you right now, when I said his name, had a thought go through your head of a time that he made you laugh and a time that he brought happiness and humor to your life. And so tonight, we're going to recognize him.”

Wyman asked that a chair be brought to the lead table near the stage and be placed, unused, in his memory. The table is important in that it is the destination for the finalists in the $5,000 reverse lottery that is the centerpiece of the event. And Tim Severns was a regular at that table in years past, he explained.

“I don't know how he did it so many years, but so many times he ended up at this final table,” said Wyman. “I'm going to ask to have a chair brought up, and we're going to have an honorary chair at the final table for Tim Severns tonight.”

Following that honor, Wyman called Trish Severns to the stage to properly kick off the evening.

“I appreciate all of you for being here,” said Trish. “It's a really important event for us, and this year, especially because this is the YMCA 150th anniversary serving this community.

“One hundred fifty years ago, we weren't driving to this event in our cars. It was pretty dusty with the horses and the wagons. We weren't texting each other. We were using the telegraph. It just was a completely different world.

“And yet, our community has stayed strong and helped each other out and worked together. I'm proud to be a part of an organization that has been doing that for 150 years, and you're all a part of that this evening. So, thank you very much.”

Trish made sure to thank the event sponsors, First Farmers Bank & Trust, McGriff Insurance, the Wyman Group, the Kokomo Country Club, and IBEW Local 873. And then the dinner, catered by Angry Donkey, was served.

As those in attendance enjoyed the meal, Wyman explained the rules of the reverse lottery. Everyone in attendance received a lottery number, which corresponded to a ping-pong ball placed into a raffle drum.

The numbers were drawn, one after another, eliminating the holders from contention for the $5,000 grand prize. However, that didn’t have to be the end of the competition for those drawn. Before the drawing began, participants had the opportunity to purchase insurance for their number, which would place the ball back into the drum the first time it was drawn.

And two lucky bidders won an additional number to be placed into the lottery. One of those bidders, Brent Owens, found a path to possible fortune when the bonus ball he purchased lasted long enough to place him at the final table.

Once the 150 entrants were whittled down to just 10, those finalists converged on the table, where they join Tim Severns’ chair for the final draws. But, before the numbers were drawn, the finalists were allowed to negotiate a split of the $5,000 prize. Everyone could win a little, or one lucky player could win a lot.

And then, a final wrinkle was introduced. An anonymous donor challenged the table to give back the $5,000 winnings to the YMCA. If they did so, the donor pledged to match the donation.

After each draw, the table deliberated about a split, but each time they declined to cooperate, fixated on winning the big prize. And when it got to the final number, there was a clear winner.

It was the YMCA. The prize was donated back – and matched – ensuring the organization met and exceeded its fundraising goal.