A record crowd at the biannual Rotary Club of Ruidoso Enchilada Dinner & Bingo Night
When the Rotary Club of Ruidoso fired up the serving line for its biannual Enchilada Dinner & Bingo Night, organizers had a problem most nonprofits would envy: too many people wanted to come. So they moved to a bigger venue, rebuilt the serving system, and fed a record 700 guests in under an hour—raising nearly $13,000 for Lincoln County student scholarships in the process.
The March 31 event at the Ruidoso Convention Center marked the 51st year of a fundraiser that has become a pillar of the club's scholarship program. This year brought an expanded venue, redesigned serving lines, and an upgraded PA system—changes that could have introduced complications but instead delivered the smoothest event in the program's history.
"This was incredible," said Rotary Club President Gavin Bigger. "Every year we grow a little bit and we add some changes. This year was particularly bigger and there were some changes with our serving line and our PA system. So there was a lot of potential for things to go wrong, but the team seems to have really hammered it out. We got about 700 people fed inside of an hour, which is incredible, and we started playing bingo on time. So I'm thrilled."
Bigger Crowds, Bigger Prizes
Increased sponsorship allowed the club to boost the grand prize bingo payout from $500 to $1,000. The winners were Ruidoso High School junior Layla Gonzales and her family, attending for the second time.
"It was very shocking," Gonzales said after the win. The family's plan for the prize money? "Put it in savings."
Scholarships and Beyond
While the scholarship fund remains the signature beneficiary, the club's support for Lincoln County students has expanded significantly. Over the past year, Ruidoso Rotary has funded the Ruidoso High School cheer team, culinary program, and Quiz Bowl team, along with the athletics program at Eastern New Mexico University – Ruidoso.
That support flows in both directions. The RHS cheer team has volunteered at recent Enchilada Dinners, and culinary students and the ENMU-Ruidoso cross country team pitched in at this year's event—a partnership model where the students Rotary supports help power the fundraiser that supports them.
"We're definitely not professionals, but everybody giving us the support keeps us learning a lot, and we keep trying to pour back into the event to make it better for everyone," Bigger said.
Looking Ahead
With the spring event now in the books, the club is already planning improvements for the October dinner, aiming to serve even more residents and further refine the serving line operations.
The Enchilada Dinner & Bingo Night has been a Lincoln County tradition for more than half a century—a sustained community investment that has helped generations of local students pursue higher education and pursue their goals.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Ruidoso or to get involved: Contact: Sean Chaffin Email: seanchaffin@sbcglobal.net Phone: (575) 686-8796