BASEBALL'S BENCH HITS MARK FOR FUND-RAISER

Fund-raisers for the Cape Girardeau Public Library hope baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench will score big with the public when he visits the city next month.

Bench is the main attraction at the Friends of the Library Foundation's second annual fund-raiser Oct. 11. He will make three appearances throughout the day for the foundation. Admission will be charged at two of the events to raise additional programming funds for the library.

Foundation treasurer Phyllis Jackson said the organization chose Bench as the event headliner because they wanted a national figure who appeals to young and old audiences. Everyone knows him, she said, and he relates well to children as well as adults.

"You can hardly mention his name and it's not recognized by everyone," said Jackson. "(The library's) budget just can't stand the strain, so we host this to help buy equipment and to provide for the summer reading program, which we do every year."

Jackson said the foundation hopes to top last year's fund-raiser, which featured Apollo 13 commander James Lovell. About $6,000 was available to the library for programming after last year's event, she said.

To reach their goal, admission will be charged when Bench delivers his keynote address at Southeast Missouri State University in Academic Auditorium at 6 p.m. Tickets will be $5 in advance and $7 at the door, Jackson said.

A private reception held on campus in the University Ballroom will follow the presentation at Academic Auditorium. Tickets for this event are $125 per person and $250 per couple.

Bench is scheduled to make a free presentation to students at the library at 5 p.m. Children wishing to attend event should register at the library before that time to reserve a seat.

Jackson said the ticket price for the main presentation is very affordable for the public. People wishing to attend the private reception understand it is a philanthropic event, she said, and want to make the donation requested for that event.

"They know it's a donation to the library," she said. "That's how we make our money."

Corporate sponsors for the event include NationsBank; General Machine and Supply/Blattner Steel Co.; Mr. and Mrs. Dale Gerecke; the Kiwanis Club of Cape Girardeau; Ruopp and Ruopp, D.D.S., P.C.; Southeast Missouri Hospital; Randall L. Stahly, D.O.; and Zimmer Radio Group.

For more information about the event call (573) 334-5279.