60-inch TV and 200 gift cards to be given away at local cancer fundraiser this Saturday

Hundreds are expected to be onhand for a special fundraiser that will take place on Saturday in between Howe and Van Alstyne

Al Vrooman and his wife Carla of PMC (Professionally Managed Candidates) had an idea of a cancer fundraiser because the disease hit close to home

"The main reason we did this is because our family has been touched by cancer three different times and never the same way" said Vrooman "Carla's mom had breast cancer, my dad had pancreas cancer and her sister has skin cancer"

Being touched by so many different forms of the disease, Vrooman chose a fundraiser that wasn't specific to just one type of cancer That's why they decided to go with the Cancer Support Community North Texas

"They deal with all kinds of cancer and they work as a support group " said Vrooman

The proceeds of Saturday’s event will go to the Cancer Support Community North Texas CSCNT provides free health and wellness programs, social activities, bereavement and survivorship programs, and even special activities for kids as well as traditional support groups and oneon-one counseling to individuals and families affected by cancer

Professionally Managed Candidates and other sponsors of are helping to pay the expenses of the fundraising event that will take place at 15048 US 75 in Van Alstyne in the big white building from 1pm to 5pm

There will be a casino room upstairs with blackjack tables and roulette, starting at 1pm Anyone can play at those tables; they are first come, first served Casino chips are “purchased” for a donation to the charity. There is also a Texas Hold 'Em Tournament beginning at 2pm Vendors will be on-hand and a silent auction will take place with over $5,100 of silent auction items available for bidding

Outside in the heated tent enclosure, there will be food available for purchase by Dickie’s BBQ and by El Patio Escondido Mexican Restaurant as well as by Sweetie Pies by Karen.

For five dollars, you can play

Cancer fundraiser

Continued from Page #3 nine holes of miniature golf The event is kid-friendly with free facepainting and free balloon animals The first 200 people 18 years of age or older will receive one free $50.00 Gift Card for use at their choice of three companies: Starpower (luxury entertainment equipment), EdKellum (appliances and electronics) or Starfloors (flooring and carpeting). The gift cards were donated by Star Companies The big prize is a Sony 60-inch High-Definition TV that will be given away in a free drawing

Vrooman's company, PMC, is a nation-wide staffing and recruiting company that staffs temporary employment all the way up through Vice Presidents of companies.

"The best way to explain Professionally Managed Candidates is that we are a recruiting broker company." said Vrooman. "We have about 20-25 recruiting companies that recruit for us When we get the job, we work and manage it, but we have a multiple window of recruiting that we can go to from A to Z "

Vrooman first had the idea of a cancer fundraiser in a networking group He took the idea to his wife Carla and they decided to do it

"It was a big learning curve " said Vrooman "There's a lot of things to it that we didn't expect It became a full-time job for me for the last three months "

Vrooman says that asking for money is the toughest part of the planning and fundraising process, but lowering their sponsorship costs have created a big turnout for the event

"I've seen sponsorships out there for $5,000 to $10,000 but our highest one was $1,250 " said Vrooman. "We tried to make it cost-effective and we had a lot of people support us and we appreciate that."

Around 25 sponsors have chipped in to help in the fundraising effort by either donating their services to the event or by assisting in covering the event expenses Another 40 businesses have contributed items to the silent auction. Vrooman and wife Carla moved their company’s offices to Van Alstyne two years ago and were before a home-based company out of Melissa for ten years. The couple are originally from Wisconsin but have lived in Texas for quite some time Carla spent eight years in Houston.

"That's how we got here " said Vrooman "Because of her roots from here."

One doesn't need to be worried about the January cold weather on Saturday because everything will be heated

"Yes, it's January and we don't know what the weather will be like on January 10th." said Vrooman. "But we are taking all precautions so don't worry about the weather"

Top Golf will be in the heated tent enclosure with the miniature golf course along with the food court The silent auction, vendors and casino will all be inside the large building There will also be a kid’s zone inside where kids can make Arts & Crafts and have their face painted for free.

"Even though there's a casino here, we're trying to make it familyfriendly." said Vrooman.

They are hoping for 200 to 300 people in attendance with all of the advertising that they've done. The event is open to the public everyone is welcome to attend The event takes place from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, January 10th at 15048 US Hwy 75 North in Van Alstyne