Sisterhood for Good's gamble for charity was in the bag

With the ticket she purchased for entry into Designer Bag Bingo Nov. 6 at the Grove in Lakewood Ranch, Brigid Saah received six Bingo cards that she could spread out over nine Bingo games during the Sisterhood for Good fundraiser.

Saah had her eyes on the $2,500 Fendi bag that was the prize for the second game.

She decided to use all six of her Bingo cards on that one game.

Smart choice.

Saah walked away with one of the most valued purses of the night.

As lucky as Saah was, Sisterhood for Good and area nonprofits were the big winners. Founder Angela Massaro-Fain decided to move the event to the Grove in Lakewood Ranch with the hope of more than doubling the attendance.

That gamble worked as well as using all six Bingo cards on one game. Designer Bag Bingo was a sellout at 293 players.

The event, which fuels Sisterhood for Good's annual grants program, also was certain to bag the organization more members as well.

Sarasota's Mary Harper was asked if she was a member.

"Not yet," Harper said. "I had never heard of Sisterhood for Good. But I am ready to join. A sisterhood gets things done."

"There are just a lot of women coming together here, having fun," said celebrity Bingo caller Summer Smith-Pope, who has handled the calling duties the last three years.

So why does she come back each year?

"Angela asked me to come back, and how do you say no to Angela?" Smith-Pope said of Angela Massaro-Fain. 

The awarded bags were by Stella McCartney ($1,200), Fendi ($2,500), Ferragamo ($2,675), Versace ($2,000), Carolina Herrera ($2,400), Alexander McQueen ($3,000), Stella McCartney ($1,200), Ferragamo ($2,400), and Burberry ($2,200).