Auburn will taste a little slice of Atlantic City this weekend, and a local non-profit plans to make area youth the big winners.

Cayuga Home for Children will hold its first casino night fundraiser Saturday. The event will feature a variety of games, including bingo, black jack, craps, roulette and more. Food and drinks will be provided by Big Kahuna's Bar and Grill.

To play the games, participants will be able to purchase vouchers which they can trade for chips at the tables. At the end of the night, they can cash out their winnings.

There will also be raffle drawings for a big-screen television and two round-trip airplane tickets for anywhere in the United States.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to fund Cayuga Home's recreational programs. If the casino night is successful, Cayuga Home CEO Edward Myers Hayes said he expects it to be an annual event.

There are already plans for funds from the casino night, Hayes said.

“We would love to put in a swimming pool,” he said.

Founded in 1852, Cayuga Home for Children offers treatment, counseling, rehabilitation and other programs to families and youth around the state.

The organization's headquarters is in Auburn, but there are centers in New York City, Rochester and Seneca Falls.

Hayes said one of the main goals of the casino night is to inform the community about Cayuga Home's many services, which are constantly evolving.

“As the needs of families and children change, we keep changing to meet those needs,” Hayes said. “I hope people who don't know a lot about us can come, learn more about Cayuga Home and, hopefully, become supporters.”

Cayuga Home staff members and volunteers will work the casino night, setting things up, serving food and drinks and even dealing cards.

The company providing the gaming equipment will hold a training session for the volunteers running the tables and will also offer on-site coaching Saturday.

Hayes said he hopes the event will be a casual and fun “date night” for those attending.

“The whole thing is that we want to create a nice, fun evening for folks while creating a good thing for families and children,” he said.

Just like any other first-time fundraisers, the casino night has seen its share of snags in the organization phase. The location had to be changed because of stipulations in a permit Cayuga Home received to hold the event. Also, organizers found out last week that slot machines would not be available as originally planned.

“There has been a huge learning curve,” Hayes said. “But because of the generosity of our sponsors, we are still breaking even before we are even opening the doors.”

Hayes also said that there were some concerns about the theme of the night and its associations with a family non-profit group.

But he said that betting limits will be in place to ensure the games are played responsibly and with moderation.

“If we lived in a perfect world, non-profits would not have to fund-raise,” Hayes said. “And we are committed to making this a fun and professional event for everyone involved.”

For more information about Cayuga Home for Children, visit www.cayugahome.org.

Citizen staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.

If you go

What: Casino Night to support Cayuga Home for Children

When: 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday

Where: 23 Chapman Ave., Auburn

Cost: $25 advance, $35 at the door. Tickets include two drinks, a sandwich, $5 in chips and drawing entry.

Tickets and information: Call 253-5383 ext. 157