The Penn Manor Marching Unit (PMMU) Booster Club will hold a bingo fundraiser on Saturday, April 20, in the cafeteria at Penn Manor High School, 100 E. Cottage Ave., Millersville. Doors will open at noon, followed by an early bird game at 1:45 p.m. Standard rounds of bingo will begin at 2 p.m., and former WGAL sports anchor Mike Hostetler will call the numbers for each game.

Prizes for the regular bingo games will include 10 designer purses and 10 YETI mugs. Each 30-ounce mug will contain a random amount of cash ranging from $50 to $200, which will be revealed when it is claimed by a player with a winning card.

Additional tickets will be available to purchase for multiple prize drawings during the event. The prize drawings will include items and gift baskets from various local businesses, such from Go 'N Bananas Family Fun Center, Rocky Springs Bowling Alley, and Fox Meadows Creamery. Other prizes will include a basket of Penn Manor school spirit accessories and an arrangement of gift cards from Ruby Tuesday, Olive Garden, Big Dog Craft Brewing, Harvey's BBQ and other local eateries. Refreshments will be available to purchase at concession stands in the cafeteria.

Although the PMMU Booster Club has held an annual fundraiser for several years, this is the first time the group has organized a bingo event. The marching band typically hosts a chicken barbecue fundraiser; Brian Pursel, president of the PMMU Booster Club, said the board decided to change the format of the event this year to engage more community members. "Our budget is roughly $40,000. We try to fundraise around $25,000 of that," Pursel said. "The idea was to try having more high-impact events to generate the revenue needed for the marching band."

The PMMU Booster Club's annual event serves as one of the marching band's most significant fundraisers. The proceeds from the fundraiser help the booster club cover the program's operational costs, which include purchasing uniforms for the color guard, equipment repairs, music licensing fees and show production budgets. The Penn Manor School District provides the necessary resources to hire several support staff members, but the funds raised by the booster club allows the marching band to hire specialists for individual mentoring, instrument technicians and other miscellaneous needs. The proceeds from the bingo fundraiser will also help the marching band pay for distant shows and events. On March 10, the PMMU participated in the Baltimore St. Patrick Parade.

Tickets are available to purchase online at a discounted rate until midnight on the day of the event, and tables may be reserved for groups of six players. Additional tickets will be sold at the door.

For more information, visit https://pmmu.org.