CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage R-9 School Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Carthage R-9 School District, hosted its annual Trivia Night Fundraiser on February 8th. The event supports the Foundation for the work they do in maintaining and awarding scholarship endowments, pass-through donations to various clubs and organizations within the school district, grant procurement for those same groups, capital project funds solicitation and distribution, and organizing the Flanigan Speech and Boylan Art and Writing Contests for high school students. The Foundation also works with the Major Saver discount card program to partner with elementary students and local businesses offering discounts on goods and services to the Carthage community.
This is the fourth year the Foundation has held the Trivia Night games, and the second at the new Specialty Risk corporate headquarters on Blackberry Road in Carthage. Specialty Risk’s new facilities offer room for expansion with their ever-growing business, and an ideal central location for their six offices in four states. The new state-of-the-art breakroom and kitchen facilities provided an ideal location for the capacity crowd for this year’s event, and owner, Kevin Charleston, his daughter, Quincy Atwood and the crew accommodated approximately 150 people that evening.
“The location and accommodations are perfect for an event of this size and we couldn’t be happier with this year’s turnout and sponsors,” said Foundation Director, Crystal Brown. “Our team entries were at capacity this year, and our sponsorships were through the roof. It warms my heart to see the reinforcement we have from the school and community each year, allowing us to continue to bolster the mission of the R-9 District and its students and faculty.”
Each year, individuals and businesses support Trivia Night in a few different ways. “We love to collaborate with the schools and community. Some people sponsor by putting together a team, while others simply donate monetarily,” said Brown. “Other individuals and businesses provide us with goods and services for our team prizes or larger items that we raffle off to individuals. We have a lot of fun! I utilize my art background and hand knit a blanket for the raffle. The marketing department at the Tech Center, led by Kaylee Washburn, provided a prize basket of goods from their store that were all made in-house by the students. This included etched travel mugs, embroidered baseball caps and screen printed apparel,” said Mrs. Brown.
“The teams that participate have the option to purchase handmade charcuterie boxes prepared by the culinary arts and catering crews at the Tech Center, as well. Sonora Jones program is just another example of how student skills and participation have thrived and grown into a viable business.”
This year’s Trivia Night team entries were at capacity, with 21, making it the largest event to date. Each entry was allowed to bring their own food and drink while participating in the mock Jeopardy formatted rounds. Teams were able to compete with themes and costumes if they wished, and this year’s winners were the Carthage High School team “Reid ‘Em and Weep”, showcasing Chiefs fandom and the support of the team in the next day’s Super Bowl. The end of each round awarded a winning team with a prize basket from local vendors, and the overall winner this year was Mariann Morgan’s team, sponsored by Checkett, Pauly, Bay and Morgan attorneys. Raffle tickets were then drawn and prizes were awarded, which included a handmade blanket, a portable Blackstone grill from Jeff Hodkin American Family, a $250 Lucky J Boots and More gift card from Specialty Risk, a $100 Pavilion Sacry Medical Spa gift card, and a $50 charm bracelet from Isabella Sacry at Glitz and Glow.
“To see members of our community, schools, the Board of Education and administration and friends enjoying themselves for an evening was amazing!,” Crystal Brown said. “We are so thankful to be working together for a common goal, our schools, as they are the heart of any community.” The Foundation thanks this year’s sponsors:
Drs. Mark Westhoff and Katrina Wicklund at Carthage Dental Associates
Chuck Bryant at Carthage Water and Electric
Susan Coy and Bailee Bland at Florette and Countryside Florists
Jeff Cartright and Joplin Industrial Electric
Mindi Wilks and Lori Leece at Mercy Hospital
Amanda Lansford and Jeff Williams at 4 States Bank
Jeff Hodkin American Family Insurance
Kimberly Fullerton at Assured Partners
Becky Chadd and Columbian Elementary
Jeanette Cartright at BigDog Boutique
Rachel Peters and Willy Waggoner at Boomers BBQ
Brittany Bridges and Carthage Jr. High
Butterball, Inc.
Dr. Newman at Carthage Animal Hospital
Carthage Olive Oil Company
Drs. Goetzinger and Baugh-Bruner and Carthage Vision Clinic
Mariann Morgan and Checkett, Pauly, Bay and Morgan
Cherry Babcock and Cherry’s Art Emporium and the Woodshed
City Pointe Beauty Academy
Cloud’s Meats
Steve Swearengen and Community National Bank and Trust
Dr. Boyer and the administration and School Board of Carthage R-9
Garrett Stramel Edward Jones
G3 Family Entertainment
Hight Jackson Architects
Kelly Choate and Hurricane Carwash
Jeff Jones and Innovative Industries
Kelsey Stenger and Jay Lou’s Custom Designs
Jeannette Clem
Rachel and Chip Cortez
Andrew Jordan and Jordan CPA
Julie Tullis and the Carthage Tech Center
Sonora Jones and the Carthage Culinary Arts and Catering Department
Kaylee Washburn and the Carthage Tech Center Marketing team store
Ryan and Alicia Knell and Knell Tax
Kristen Harrison, CHS Counselors and Carthage High School
Angela Holman, CHS Principal
La Familia Restaurant
Lucretia Burt and Leggett and Platt
Matt and Jessie Freeman and Lucky J Steakhouse and Arena and Boots and more
Manuel Maturino and MIs Arcos
Nicole Bayless and Steadley Elementary
Heather Willis, Jeannette Clem and Southwest Missouri Bank
Amanda Fosdick and the staff at Old Missouri Bank
Casey and Ryan Brunnert and Ott Food Products
Roy Mason and Race Brothers Farm and Home Supply
Kathy Laytham and Sacry Family Medicine
Brian Schmidt and Kalee Vice and the staff of Schmidt Associates
Taqueria Los Compas
Lee and Emma Pound and the Artist’s Loft
Patrice and Gwyneth Sacry and the Pavilion Medical Spa
Isabella Sacry and Glitz and Glow Spray Tans and Jewelry
Wasche Laundry
Mike and Tria Zeiter and Zeiter Tax Service
Kelly and Peyton Derryberry
Maria Sanchez
Greg Kyte
Chloe Allmoslecher
Shannon Brewer
Kenny and Morgan Brown
and of course, Quincy, Colt, Chance, Sam, Chip, Kevin and all the rest of the staff at Specialty Risk Insurance for hosting, setting up and breaking down for the event. What an amazing facility and group!
