The DARE Winterguard hosted a bingo fundraiser at the Polish Community Center in Binghamton today to raise money for equipment and uniforms. 

The event featured a variety of prizes, including basket prizes, door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, and food.

Winterguard President Mike Rounds said it is important to support performing arts organizations like theirs, which provide unique opportunities for participants.

"A lot of times, say when people have it in their school programs, if they graduate and they go to age out, they don't have the opportunity to spin. So by supporting an all-age group such as what we are, it gives people who want to keep on spinning from high school [an opportunity]," Rounds said.

Winterguard coach Becky Merges said that it's not just about performances—it's about the life lessons the participants learn.

"Performing arts covers so many aspects of life. They teach teamwork. They teach socialization. They teach academic skills," Merges said.

Rounds said that fundraisers like this are important for several reasons.

"[It] lets people know that number one, we are existing; and also by having this, it sometimes draws in new people that have never said 'Mateys' before or didn't know anything about winterguard,"he said.

He encouraged the community to visit the Winterguard's Facebook page to find out how they can support the organization.