After my last post, my sisters reminded me that I spend a lot of time working on our annual Trivia Night. Oh yeah, I kinda forgot about that stuff. I will say though, working on that really is a labor of love. (As opposed to sitting around, watching movies and reading books – which is grueling work.)
A few years ago, three to be exact, Jen suggested that we do a fundraiser after reading an article about a local woman and her husband who were organizing a benefit run for this charity from California called Free Wheelchair Mission. This organization manufactures and distributes these inexpensive wheelchairs to people in need, who generally live in Third World countries, at no cost to them (hence the name). All of the expenses incurred by the foundation are covered by donations.
Naturally, we felt this was a very worthy cause and we both wanted to do something that helped raise money for them. Since neither of us felt like doing a 5K run or making a spaghetti dinner for 200 people we settled on hosting a trivia night, we’d gone to several over the years so it was kind of in our wheelhouse. More so than a fish fry or selling TJs pizza.
Has anyone seen the Emcee?
Since I obviously can’t do much of the heavy lifting we agreed that I would take care of doing the questions and music and that she would do… um… everything else. Pretty good deal for me – sitting around coming up with trivia questions not only eats up my seemingly endless supply of free time but it’s also for a worthy cause. Slam dunk! I gotta say though, after doing four of these now my limited and finite knowledge of all things trivial is being stretched pretty thin. When we started doing this, some days I’d come up with 3 or 4 questions a day – now I’m lucky to do that many in a month. I need to head back to school! (If they hadn’t demolished it and put up a Schnucks. Or as Mike Shannon calls it – Snook’s.)
This is the weirdest Chili Cook-Off I’ve ever been to. Why does that guy keep asking us questions?
So once a year we rent out the gym at St. Charles Borromeo and have a big get-together – uh, I mean, Trivia Night – and it’s a lot of fun! We know almost everyone there, in some cases it’s the only time of the year that we get a chance to see some people. All kinds of people help us out and are so generous, donating gift baskets and prizes. My whole family and friends of the family pitch in and help with all of the duties required to make the evening fun and successful.
There are a handful of things we plan and look forward to throughout the year, in my book the Trivia Night tops the list!
lockedinjim 
Diane and I have been to several of the trivia nights. They are well run and a lot of fun. When is the next one?
I’m glad you guys enjoy it, we sure do! We’re planning on doing another one in the spring.
Super – love it and you do a super job from start to finish
I still am in awe that these chairs are made so inexpensive – really a wonderful cause – so glad you turned us on to it.
We haven’t missed one yet and enjoy them so much. One of these days we may shock you Jim
and not come in last place!
We love coming to them, Jim. It’s one big party AND we all get to help people in need! You and the family do a wonderful job.
PLEASE don’t ever do a fish fry! I’d have to draw the line at helping with that one. Remember how Dave used to smell when he got home from working at KFC? That fried smell NEVER goes away!! Sorry Dave, but you kinda reeked!