Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy will be a celebrity dealer at the Lenoir Community College Foundation’s Casino Night on Jan. 25. Submitted photo

The Lenoir Community College Foundation will have the celebrities on the tables for Casino Night.

The event takes place Friday, Jan. 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the Culinary Arts Center at LCC. Tables open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $50 per person, with all proceeds benefiting the school’s scholarship program.

Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy rejoins the Lenoir Community College Foundation this year as a celebrity dealer and said he loved supporting students at LCC, while also happy to be with the community for an enjoyable evening. 

Born and raised in Kinston, Hardy has close ties to LCC as a former student of the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Program.  As the current Police Sargent at UNC Lenoir Healthcare in Kinston, Hardy said BLET did a fantastic job preparing him for his career.

When he isn’t busy fulfilling his mayoral duties, Hardy enjoys listening to music, traveling places, socializing with people in the community and especially mentoring the youth in and around the City of Kinston.  Hardy is now on the Board of Directors of the N.C. Mayor Association and Global TransPark, also  serving on the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Federal Advocacy Committee.

Down East Wood Ducks sales director Jon Clemmons is also on board as a celebrity dealer. Originally from Swansboro, Clemmons has lived in Raleigh and Asheville before coming to Kinston to work with the Down East Wood Ducks.

Clemmons has partnered with LCC and the Foundation since arriving in Kinston.  He said he has thoroughly enjoyed working with LCC President, Dr. Rusty Hunt, and Marketing Director, Richy Huneycutt, along with their staffs in initiatives promoting students, education and baseball in the community.  

Clemmons is an avid runner and can usually be seen traveling up and down the streets of Kinston on foot. His advice to gamblers new and seasoned is to go with your gut feeling. 

Greene Ridge Racquet Club owner Bobby Taylor is the third confirmed celebrity dealer for Casino Night. An LCC alumnus, Taylor has been assisting the LCC Foundation with its annual Tennis & Golf Classic for more than 10 years. He is a consistent supporter of the scholarship foundation and frequent contributor.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available and may be purchased online at www.lenoircc.edu/casino or by contacting the Development Coordinator in the LCC Foundation office at 252-233-6843.