The Elizabethton/Carter County Boys and Girls Club is offering the community a chance to win $5,000 by entering its reverse raffle.
This is the first year the ECCBGC has tackled this fundraising initiative.
“This is a great opportunity for us to provide funding for our kids who attend throughout the year,” ECCBGC Resource Development and Marketing Director Elizabeth Williams said.
If 250 tickets are sold, it could pay full tuition for 14 children to attend ECCBGC as well as fund the $5,000 prize. Tickets are $50.
“If we sell that many tickets, it will net us about $6,500,” Williams said. “Fourteen kids could have a safe, supportive after school environment with a snack and balanced dinner. They could be given academic support and an enriching environment to help them reach their full potential.”
Currently the fundraiser is at risk of costing the organization money. In order to make it successful, Williams is asking the public to set up.
“We don’t even have 100 tickets sold yet,” she said.
The fundraiser falls in line with two of the organization’s most important goals — serving the youth and fundraising.
“You don’t turn children away,” Williams said. “We’re here to help kids that need us most. We want to help children who wouldn’t be able to attend otherwise.”
The organization has an overall goal this year of helping more than 600 Carter County children and serving more than 30,000 meals and snacks to children.
“This is an important way for us to raise money for our work,” Williams said.
There are specific advantages to having a raffle-style fundraiser, Williams said.
“Raffles allow us to engage other people in the community,” she said. “We have been able to reach out to people who don’t know about Boys and Girls Club.”
But, it’s more than just a raffle, she said.
“The people who participate are really getting the chance to effect the lives of people into the community,” Williams said. “We have a chance to share the work we’re doing as well as receive some funding. It’s huge deal for us.”
The raffle will continue through Aug. 3, when a winner will be drawn at 5:30 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club. The public is welcome to attend the drawing.
For more information, call Williams at 543-2946 or go online to bgcecc.org/2015-reverse-raffle.