Packers change date of senior party fundraiser

• Packers change game date

Packers change game date

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Julie Larson received an e-mail early this month that would make any event organizer cringe.

A representative of the Green Bay Packers told her there had been a scheduling mix up with the world-champion team and that players could not come to River Falls on the April 2 date Larson had set for a senior party fundraising basketball game.

Packer players on the Green Machine team will take on the River Falls Hometown Team, a group of local people.

Instead the game will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, April 17, in the River Falls High School gym. Doors still open at noon, and halftime will still include autograph and photo opportunities with the Packer players.

The Senior Party Committee had already announced the event and started selling tickets to it.

Everyone was hopeful that the exciting fundraiser would generate cash not only for this year’s senior party, but also for future years.

Then, Larson received “THE” e-mail from an appearance coordinator, “Rob,” who wrote: “Good morning, I am sorry to inform you that coach has changed the date that the players will be coming back in town this year.

“In years past they were expected back in Green Bay March 15. However, with the Super Bowl going into February, the players aren’t required back until at least the second week in April now.

“I am so very sorry for this as I know it puts you guys in a very tough position having sold tickets and reserving the gym. You guys are one of five communities that this will affect the date of your game…”

Larson said she called right away to see what she could do. She had a Senior Party Committee meeting later that same day and says together, the group picked the new date.

She asked Rob if the NFL lockout could affect the fundraising basketball game. He replied it should not interfere with the game.

Larson said last week, “We’ve sold about 400 tickets.”

She said anyone who could go on April 2 but can’t on April 17 can get a refund by returning the tickets by U.S. Mail to: River Falls Class Party Association, P.O. Box 114, River Falls, 54022.

Larson said the group wasn’t collecting names and contact information as they sold tickets, and she hopes all those with a ticket have heard about the changed date.

Larson says with good cheer that while the switch certainly isn’t ideal, she hopes it will still be a successful fundraiser. The party committee hopes to sell 1,500 of the $15 tickets.

The C.A.T.S. group at the high school -- Connecting All Together Socially -- will sell concessions and manage a silent auction at the game. Proceeds from those two activities go toward scholarships for special-education students.

“We really do need for people to buy tickets,” Larson said.

Tickets are available at WESTconsin Credit Union on north Main Street and in the branch located in the Cat Shop at the high school, at Associated Dentist, at River Falls State Bank, and at Arrow Building Center.

For more information about the Packers basketball fundraiser or about the annual senior party, contact Julie Larson at 715-781-7277 or julars@live.com.

Tags: arts and entertainment, lifestyle, k-12, entertainment, events