Reality Rally

(On the right: Rzesnowiecky)

Today’s “Up Close and Personal” interview features Sarah Rzesnowiecky, member of the Reality Rally race team “The Three Stooges” and a supporter of Reality Rally for 3 years now!

Rzesnowiecky, a hair stylist at Fletcher Smith the Spa, first became involved with Reality Rally after Gillian approached her and a group of friends about fundraising for Michelle’s Place. Rzesnowiecky, along with Sheila Enlow and Laurie Mann-Hart, had created a networking event called “Vendor Bingo”, which used the popular game bingo to market different products that the three women were selling. As a Partylite company representative, Rzesnowiecky sells candles and home décor, while Enlow and Mann-Hart sell Miche purses. The concept of Vendor Bingo was simple: create a special, tight-knit event that would advertise their companies’ products and be a fun attraction for people in the valley. And so, Vendor Bingo was born.

At Vendor Bingo, attendees play six rounds of bingo, and the winner of each round receives a prize from one of six vendors at the event.

When Gillian heard about Vendor Bingo, she realized the same concept could be used to fundraise for Michelle’s Place, and asked the three women if they would be willing to do a bingo event for that cause.

“We had no idea about Reality Rally or anything, but of course we agreed, it was a great cause. So we were on board and that’s how ‘Bingo for Boobies’ started,” Rzesnowiecky said.

The women named the new event Bingo for Boobies, and it proved to be wildly successful.

“What you do is you come and play bingo. You buy a bingo packet, and we have a ton of vendors that give us gifts as giveaways. And so we play six rounds of bingo and you make them pay for the packet and we give that money straight to Michelle’s Place.”

Rzesnowiecky and her friends host the event every three to four months, raising nearly $1000 each time. In fact, just recently, they were informed by Gillian that with $4000 raised, they are the second-highest fundraising team for Reality Rally this year!

Rzesnowiecky looks forward to running in the race with her team (and best friends) again this year.

“Oh my gosh it’s absolutely a kick in the pants. It is so much fun. As I said, if you would see the three of us together, the name fits. The name ‘Three Stooges’ is just because when the three of us get together, we can be pretty silly. And we laugh a lot,” she said.

The Three Stooges look forward to teaming up with reality star Chris Wallace again, who they raced with last year and were able to specially request again this year.

Most of all, Rzesnowiecky says that the cause behind the race makes it that much more rewarding.

“It feels good to do something like that for Michelle’s Place, because it’s been around for a long time. Michelle’s place helps not only the patient, they help the whole family. We’re really looking forward to playing the game, and having Chris come back and join our team, and just being part of the event. It’s just such a great atmosphere. Everybody is so positive. You get caught up in the enthusiasm and the fun of being down there and all these different teams. And you all fundraise for the same place,” she said.

Thank you for being a part of Reality Rally, Sarah! We can’t wait to see you, Laurie, and Sheila in just a few days!

- Taryn Murphy