Palm Coast, FL (May 15, 2021) – Returning to reclaim the title, Andrew Dance became the North Florida Monopoly Champion for the second time on Saturday evening, during a benefit hosted by Black Tie Events at the Palm Coast VFW 8696.
Winning the inaugural championship in 2019, Dance was eliminated in the first round in 2020, but returned in 2021 to recapture first place after a close finale against Chad Barker and Ty Maloney. Yes, there’s a strategy to winning but the lineman-in-training was tightlipped about his game plan after the event.
“Normally I just play a quick game at home with my family, and my strategy is to get them to play as fast as possible,” he shared. “I did lose to my sister at home last year and it was very sad, but I’ll brag to her when I get back. I love them putting on this competition and I love to come play.”
Event organizer Lee Filipe, owner of Black Tie Events, has professionally produced corporate and nonprofit events for decades, and says she enjoys bringing together events that will benefit community organizations like Abundant Life Ministries Hope House, Inc., the evening’s beneficiary.
“The history with my doing Monopoly tournaments started with kids in foster care, working with an organization called The Adoption Exchange. They do Wednesday’s Child all over Nevada so that’s how it all started, and it’s come right back to the beginning of doing this event to help foster kids. It’s just so great,” said Filipe.
Supported by sponsors including CenterState Bank, The Net by George, Texas Roadhouse, S.R. Perrott and more, Sandra Shank, CEO and founder of Abundant Life Ministries Hope House Inc., said that throughout COVID, she has continued to see blessings manifest, that have been returned in service to the community.
“We are so blessed to have been chosen by Black Tie Events to be the recipient of this year’s Monopoly Tournament fundraiser to benefit our organization and all the things that we’re doing in the community,” said Shank.
A longtime supporter of Shank’s work, which includes work with foster children, and more recently the opening of Phoenix Community Services, a medical center providing primary care as well as mental health and substance abuse services, former Flagler County School Board member and current Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance said he was proud to help out with the event, serving as the evening’s emcee, Mr. Monopoly.
“We’ve known each other for probably 20 years, so it’s a good opportunity to kind of give back, raise money for a lot of good causes. Abundant Life Ministries does a lot for the community,” said Dance.
Featured Photo: Mr. Monopoly (Andy Dance) congratulates Andrew Dance, winner of the 2021 North Florida Monopoly Championship, held on Saturday evening at the Palm Coast 8696, to benefit Abundant Life Ministries, Hope House Inc.
