Ventura College Foundation Launches $500,000 Cash Raffle to Increase Local College Attendance Opportunities
Proceeds to Benefit Ventura College "Promise," a Grant Program to Aid Area High School Graduates With First-Year College Costs
VENTURA, CA--(Marketwire - February 7, 2008) - The Ventura College Foundation, the fundraising arm of Ventura Community College, today launched its first annual "Make A Promise" $500,000 Cash Raffle to raise money to increase opportunities for local area high school graduates to attend college. Funds raised through the raffle will help underwrite first-year enrollment costs for high school graduates who otherwise might not be able to attend due to economic or academic barriers. Many of these recipients will be the first generation in their family to attend college.
For $100 per ticket, the "Make A Promise" raffle offers participants eight opportunities to win Early Bird prizes ranging from a luxury beach getaway, to a home theater system, to first-class airline tickets anywhere in the continental United States, and three prizes in the Grand Prize drawing, plus the Grand Prize of $500,000 awarded in June 2008. No more than 14,000 tickets will be sold. "Make A Promise" raffle rules and ticket purchase information can be found at www.venturacollegeraffle.com.
In the face of continued State budget cuts for California's public colleges, private fundraising is of increasing importance to institutions. The Ventura College Foundation, a California nonprofit organization established in 1981, raises funds to provide quality educational opportunities for more than 12,000 Ventura College students in the form of scholarships, grants and additional funding for programs. The Foundation's work and the "Make A Promise" raffle become more critical with the recently announced budget cuts in which the State's community colleges will lose $40 million in a midyear cut and $484 million more in the 2008-2009 school year.
"Since its launch two years ago, the Ventura College Promise program has been overwhelmingly successful," says Norbert Tan, Executive Director of the Ventura College Foundation. It has opened the door for many bright students who do not have the financial means to attend college. We launched this cash raffle to help ensure the continued success of the Promise program and educate our future local leaders. Our community will be the direct beneficiary of the work force we are helping to prepare."
Tom Anthony, Ventura College Foundation Board Chairman, adds, "We believe the Ventura College 'Make a Promise' program will help provide affordable, high-quality education for growing numbers of deserving, yet lower-income, students. This is a way for the Ventura community to say to each high school senior, 'We'll commit to you if you are willing to commit to yourself and to your future!'"
About the Ventura College Foundation
The Ventura College Foundation is dedicated to the support and enhancement of the student educational experience at Ventura College through fundraising activities that provide scholarships, grants and funds to students, staff and special projects. The Ventura College Foundation is made up of a volunteer board of community leaders who serve as the Board of Directors and hundreds of supporters, all of whom are dedicated to enhancing and sustaining the educational experience at Ventura College. For more information please call the Foundation at (805) 654-6461 or visit www.venturacollegefoundation.edu/foundation.
"Make A Promise" Raffle Rules Below
-- Ventura College Foundation's "Make A Promise" cash raffle is open to
California-residents, 18-years and older. The raffle is registered with the
California Attorney General, Nonprofit Raffle Registration #R-874.
-- Official rules, entry forms, prize and drawing details and additional
information about "Make A Promise" cash raffle may be obtained at
www.venturacollegeraffle.com
-- Raffle tickets are available for purchase by calling 1-805-856-9170,
Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm PST. Tickets may also be purchased
via fax or postal mail by downloading and filling out an entry form
available at www.venturacollegeraffle.com
-- To be eligible for Early Bird Drawing #1, tickets must be purchased by
March 10th, 2008 for the drawing held March 17th, 2008, 2 p.m. at Ventura
College
-- To be eligible for Early Bird Drawing #2, tickets must be purchased by
Thursday, March 27th, 2008 for the drawing held Friday, April 4th, 2008, 2
p.m. at Ventura College
-- To be eligible for the half-million dollar cash prize, ticket payment
must be received by Friday, June 6th, 2008 or prior to 12,000 tickets sold.
The half-million dollar cash prize drawing will be held June 13, 2008 at
Ventura College. Grand Prize Drawing date is subject to change if raffle
sells out early
-- All Early Bird tickets including the winning tickets are re-entered
into the raffle for the Final and Grand Finale drawings
-- You do not have to be present to win
-- If less than 12,000 tickets are sold, Ventura College Foundation will
not award the half million dollar grand prize; it will award one-half of
the net profits of the raffle
Contact:
Kat Calbes / Melissa Barto
BLAZE
310.395.5050
Email Contact / Email Contact |
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