By Alex Smith
Austin Daily Herald
AUSTIN, Minn. — The back room of the Austin Eagles Club was transformed into a jailhouse Wednesday afternoon for the annual March of Dimes jail and bail fundraiser.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants were thrown into the mock jail to raise bail in the form of donations by calling friends and family.
“[The event] helps the community get involved,” said Committee Chair Lisa Morehouse.
Organizers expected 20-25 jailbirds to participate. Every hour, a new group of inmates arrived. During their time, each person was expected to try and raise $1,000 for their bail.
One man decided to take the fundraiser one step further by promising to shave his beard if he raised $1,000.
“I will,” he promised. “I’m working on it.”
About $1,800 was raised prior to the event through fundraising completed beforehand. The goal was to raise $15,000. Last year’s event at Torge’s raised more than $12,000.
Money raised through the event will help fund new transdisciplinary research centers and help bring the March of Dimes closer to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature births and infant mortality.
Morehouse was happy to see a great outcome for a cause she’s passionate about.
“I like to see as many healthy babies as possible,” Morehouse said. “It just breaks a person’s heart to see a baby born with defects.”