After almost two years of frustration, mixed signals and delays, it appears that a local charity will finally receive the roughly $35,000 that they raised to help develop a playground in Biddeford’s downtown area.

Roxi Suger, a well-known business owner in Biddeford, is also known as the driving force behind the annual Biddeford Ball, a gala event that raises funds to benefit the community.

In addition to ticket sales, the annual event also attracts corporate sponsors. All proceeds are then donated to the community via the Heart of Biddeford, a non-profit organization.

But Suger said something went wrong two years ago, following the fourth annual Biddeford Ball in 2023.

“It’s been a nightmare,” she said, pointing to the national company that handles online ticket sales for the event.

Suger says she has always used Brown Paper Tickets, a Seattle-based firm, to handle online sales and reservations for the Biddeford Ball.

According to Suger, the company has been withholding payment of more than $35,000 since April 2023.

“There were never any problems until then,” she said. “I was shocked because we used the same company before with no problems.”

Suger described her efforts to recoup those funds as an “exhausting ordeal” that has involved dozens of unanswered calls and emails.

Delilah Poupore, the Heart of Biddeford’s executive director, said she even tried contacting the Maine Attorney General’s office to no avail.

“It just felt like we were going round and round and chasing our tails,” Poupore said.

Brown Paper Tickets was acquired by Events.com nearly three years ago.

Events.com, based in La Jolla, Calif., operates all over the globe. According to their website they have provided services for “millions of events.”

“It just felt like we were
going round and round
and chasing our tails,”

— Delilah Poupore

Though both Suger and Poupore said they have been ignored by the company, the company responded almost immediately when contacted by the Biddeford Gazette.

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention,” read an email from an unnamed media spokesperson. “We have located this account and it is part of the final set of groups slated for payments as part of the last phase of the Events.com acquisition.

“We expect the payment issuance to be initiated no later than Friday of next week, August 22.

 “We understand the acquisition of Brown Paper Tickets by Events.com took time. We apologize for the delay and sincerely hope the funds can still be used for their initial intent.

 “We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this process.”

When contacted about the company’s response to the Gazette, Poupore said the news brought tears to her eyes.

“That is amazing news for Biddeford,” she said.

For her part, Roxi Suger said she is grateful that this process will likely come to a close. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said.

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Randy Seaver is the editor and founder of the Biddeford Gazette. He may be contacted by email: randy@randyseaver.com

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