At work, I typically have to attend two official office parties each year. One is at Christmas and the other is usually during the summer. In order to pay for the event, all participants are asked to provide some money. The cost is usually about $30 per person in a department of about 100 people. This pays for the food and beverage with a little left over for door prizes (about $2500 for the restaurant fee and about $500 for the prizes). Traditionally, games are always held at these parties so that everyone has a chance to win a little bit of money back through the door prizes. This means a lot of work for the person in charge who is usually a volunteer. That person has to arrange for the restaurant, raise the money, organize the games, and prepare all the prizes in advance. It is a lot of work but is very appreciated by the rest of us in the department that attend these parties.