When faced with the challenge of raising funds for a significant project, how does one go about it?
The New York-New Jersey Chapter of the Silliman University Alumni Association has embarked on a creative and ambitious endeavor to hold a grand raffle which, it envisions, would raise a considerable amount in support of the SUACONA project in Silliman University to refurbish Oriental Hall, converting it into the Student Center.
A 2011 Mercedes Benz C300 is up for grabs as the top prize in the raffle, which also affords other very attractive prizes. An option of $35,000 cash can be taken instead of the car. Second prize is $5,000 cash. Third prize is $3,000 cash. And the fourth will consist of four prizes of $500 each.
NYNJ Chapter President Dely Po Go said, “All the proceeds of this raffle will go entirely to Silliman University, particularly the Student Center Project. NYNJ Chapter will not keep a single cent for itself.”
As in past fundraisers, NYNJ Chapter has led the way in not only facing the challenge squarely, but also in setting a philosophy that recognizes that an alumni association’s primary concern is to benefit its alma mater. Hence, Mrs. Go added, the chapter is in total support of this present SUACONA initiative, recognizing that the Student Center Project will contribute significantly in the university’s ability to provide excellent student services and in the enrichment of student life on the campus.
Not only are the raffle prizes enticing, but it also affords a higher statistical probability of winning – only 1,000 tickets will be sold! “The 1,001st buyer will definitely be turned down and his money returned,” emphasized Mrs. Go. “This ensures that each ticket costing $100 will have a 1:1,000 probability of winning. That is just considering the first prize; that probability increases substantially when you put into consideration the six other significant prizes to be won. And this gets more alluring when compared with the bleak odds of winning the lotto, which is 1:250,000,000.”
Drawing of the raffle will be held on the evening of June 20, during the Gala Night of Tipon Silliman 2011, a biennial gathering of Sillimanians in North America which, this year, will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska. The drawing will be supervised by representatives of the SU administration, SUACONA, NYNJ Chapter, as well as the government of the State of Alaska.
The official rules of the raffle can be found in the SUACONA website. A flyer can also be downloaded from the website, which will provide information on how to buy your ticket.
