AUBURN - Although he wasn't dressed in a shiny sharkskin suit, like Robert DeNiro in “Casino,” Ed Hayes still cut quite a figure as he strode around his temporary casino floor.
Hayes is the CEO of the Cayuga Home for Children, which held a casino night in Auburn Saturday to raise money for its recreational programs. More than 350 tickets were pre-sold for the event, and tickets were available at the door.
Hayes noted that his organization often faces difficulties in raising money that others don't.
“Non-profits should be given the resources that they need. As a non-profit that deals with disenfranchised children and family, we don't have a lot of natural supporters - we don't have a alumni association. Most of the people whose lives we turn around don't have the ability to make a contribution to us,” he said.
All of the staff for casino night had to be members of the Cayuga Home For Children organization, according to the regulations of the New York State Racing & Wagering Board. That would include employees, board members, or anyone who makes a minimum $25 contribution to Cayuga Home. Also helping were a dozen National Honor Society students from Auburn High, who helped with traffic, parking, and serving food. They weren't directly involved with any of the gambling tables.
Two staffers in Cayuga Home's human resources department were behind gaming tables. Human resources coordinator Tina Kehoe dealt blackjack at one of the 10 tables lined up on each side of the gymnasium.
Kehoe does not gamble at the Turning Stone casino in Oneida County, but she does play poker in family games on occasion. She does OK in those contests, she said, but still could use a little more practice on her card shuffling skills.
“I can't do the bridge,” said Kehoe, arching her fingers before demonstrating how she rearranges a deck by shuffling from above.
Having joined the HR department just five months ago, Jessica Wolniak had a friendly smile as she waited for customers. Wolniak was working the Money Wheel, but had been cross-trained to work most of the other games as well.
“You become comfortable with playing, and then it becomes fun,” Wolniak said.
“It's been an education this year,” Hayes said. “We've learned a lot more about doing it, so we'll be far better prepared next year.”
Informational materials were available at the door and at the dining tables.
The local Cayuga Home campus has 35 beds, and offices in several other New York cities, including Rochester, Canandaigua, Elmira, and the Bronx. In New York City, they are based in the South Bronx but work with children from all five boroughs.
“Most the work we do these days is to keep children and families safely together, so that children do not have to be removed from the home,” Hayes said.
Most of the children who live at the local campus have substance abuse or mental health issues, or they have been involved with the juvenile justice system.
“We've put together a cross-discipline program to address kids with multiple problems,” Hayes said.
As for any gambling urges of his own, Hayes is too smart to lay any money down.
“The only luck I have is bad luck. My wife, Patsy, will play for me,” he quipped.
Hayes noted that his organization often faces difficulties in raising money that others don't.
“Non-profits should be given the resources that they need. As a non-profit that deals with disenfranchised children and family, we don't have a lot of natural supporters - we don't have a alumni association. Most of the people whose lives we turn around don't have the ability to make a contribution to us,” he said.
All of the staff for casino night had to be members of the Cayuga Home For Children organization, according to the regulations of the New York State Racing & Wagering Board. That would include employees, board members, or anyone who makes a minimum $25 contribution to Cayuga Home. Also helping were a dozen National Honor Society students from Auburn High, who helped with traffic, parking, and serving food. They weren't directly involved with any of the gambling tables.
Two staffers in Cayuga Home's human resources department were behind gaming tables. Human resources coordinator Tina Kehoe dealt blackjack at one of the 10 tables lined up on each side of the gymnasium.
Kehoe does not gamble at the Turning Stone casino in Oneida County, but she does play poker in family games on occasion. She does OK in those contests, she said, but still could use a little more practice on her card shuffling skills.
“I can't do the bridge,” said Kehoe, arching her fingers before demonstrating how she rearranges a deck by shuffling from above.
Having joined the HR department just five months ago, Jessica Wolniak had a friendly smile as she waited for customers. Wolniak was working the Money Wheel, but had been cross-trained to work most of the other games as well.
“You become comfortable with playing, and then it becomes fun,” Wolniak said.
“It's been an education this year,” Hayes said. “We've learned a lot more about doing it, so we'll be far better prepared next year.”
Informational materials were available at the door and at the dining tables.
The local Cayuga Home campus has 35 beds, and offices in several other New York cities, including Rochester, Canandaigua, Elmira, and the Bronx. In New York City, they are based in the South Bronx but work with children from all five boroughs.
“Most the work we do these days is to keep children and families safely together, so that children do not have to be removed from the home,” Hayes said.
Most of the children who live at the local campus have substance abuse or mental health issues, or they have been involved with the juvenile justice system.
“We've put together a cross-discipline program to address kids with multiple problems,” Hayes said.
As for any gambling urges of his own, Hayes is too smart to lay any money down.
“The only luck I have is bad luck. My wife, Patsy, will play for me,” he quipped.
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