Raffle question

[momxx5]

The long story short.....

She has a wheelchair that was provided (thru insurance with maintenance for 3 yrs). This wheelchair is not "breathable" so she gets very hot in it. At her elementary school is was not an issue because it was a brand new school with great air, however at the 50 yr old middle school the air control is iffy...if its hot, its really hot. So there are days she cannot come to school or leaves 1/2 day because she gets too hot (parents have had to ice her down to bring down temp).
So parents & insurance cannot be involved in additional chair or they will lose the chair they have and any future privileges.

A teacher brought this to the attention of the band, knowing that there are kind, thoughtful folks who will get things done. It is not going to be a "band booster" event for legal reasons, etc. The school guidance dept and social worker have been looking into getting her a new chair via other ways, but with all the funding cuts, no one is able to provide a secondary wheelchair.

We have everything donated and ready to go.....just a debate on pricing and if we really want to raffle 3 items.
I vote for $1/ticket or 6 for $5 with all 3 prizes. Others want $5 tickets with only iPad as prize to keep things simple.

This is a group of parents/kids doing a great thing for a good girl in need. There is no legal problems with raffles, as they are held all the time at all the schools.

Thank you for all that weighed in on which way we should go....ticket price and prizes. They will be voting tonight on how to move forward. I will not be involved in the handling of the raffle itself as I am in charge of a different event that will fall into the same time frame, however I was able to co-ordinate the donations.

 

[ilovemk76]

The long story short.....

She has a wheelchair that was provided (thru insurance with maintenance for 3 yrs). This wheelchair is not "breathable" so she gets very hot in it. At her elementary school is was not an issue because it was a brand new school with great air, however at the 50 yr old middle school the air control is iffy...if its hot, its really hot. So there are days she cannot come to school or leaves 1/2 day because she gets too hot (parents have had to ice her down to bring down temp).
So parents & insurance cannot be involved in additional chair or they will lose the chair they have and any future privileges.

A teacher brought this to the attention of the band, knowing that there are kind, thoughtful folks who will get things done. It is not going to be a "band booster" event for legal reasons, etc. The school guidance dept and social worker have been looking into getting her a new chair via other ways, but with all the funding cuts, no one is able to provide a secondary wheelchair.

We have everything donated and ready to go.....just a debate on pricing and if we really want to raffle 3 items.
I vote for $1/ticket or 6 for $5 with all 3 prizes. Others want $5 tickets with only iPad as prize to keep things simple.

This is a group of parents/kids doing a great thing for a good girl in need. There is no legal problems with raffles, as they are held all the time at all the schools.

Thank you for all that weighed in on which way we should go....ticket price and prizes. They will be voting tonight on how to move forward. I will not be involved in the handling of the raffle itself as I am in charge of a different event that will fall into the same time frame, however I was able to co-ordinate the donations.

I do not believe this statement. Who is going to push her off the wheel chair and then take it away. If she gets a new one, why is she worried about the old one? Why only approach the band and not the school or say a CHARITY?

 

[Metsfan520]

I do not believe this statement. Who is going to push her off the wheel chair and then take it away. If she gets a new one, why is she worried about the old one? Why only approach the band and not the school or say a CHARITY?

I agree. This makes little or no sense. Even if all that is true, why use funds already raised to buy prizes? Wouldn't it have made more sense to use those funds to start the fund raising for the wheelchair itself? Ipads, Ipods, Nanos aren't cheap. You'd probably be half way to a new chair. Then some basic fundraising--car washes, etc.--and you'd have a new chair. But a part of me doesn't believe that they can't get another one any other way.

 

[momxx5]

The parents and social worker will be speaking at the next meeting about this matter. It has something to do with "if the parents can afford a second chair then they'll have to pay for first chair/maintanence too". I also asked why charities like United Way or Shriners, etc cannot help. I was told this would all be explained.

From what I understand, it looks like it will be one prize = iPad for $5/ticket. The iPad was donated, so no cost. They need to sell 500 tickets to make their goal. This is not just the band doing it....it is at least 2 schools and the public, trying to reach out to as many as possible.

Also, the second chair will not replace her other wheelchair. The new wheelchair will be used at the school setting and other outdoor events.

 

[RitaE]

Well now I'm even more confused

If Charities can't help - then why can the Band Booster Club hold a charity auction.

Only "some" charities can help?
Only "non-sanctioned, unofficial" charities can help?

If her parents "can't be involved" then how can they show up at the meeting to explain things? Are they going to wear disguises?

If you only need to sell 500 tickets, multi-schools and public is way overkill. You could get 500 - $5 donations for a wheelchair for a middle school girl in one Sunday of area church askings and nobody would have to run an auction.

 

[momxx5]

Wow....I had no idea this would be such a thread. It is a raffle not an auction.

I was originally asking:

Do you think multiple prizes at lower ticket sale prices will raise more money that one larger prize with a more costly raffle ticket sale price?

One group thinks $1/ticket with $5 for 6 tickets will reach more people.
The other group wants to keep things simple with $5/ticket and only offer the grand prize of an iPad.

All the rest is details about who, why and what the raffle is for.
It is to purchase a wheelchair for a middle school student for her to more easier get around, attend electives, and have a more comfortable and enjoyable middle school experience.

The details about why other charities cannot help are not fully understood....they will be explained at a meeting. Anyone can attend the meeting and help in anyway the want.
The raffle was one of the ideas mentioned and an iPad was donated so there would be big start up costs.
It is a fundraiser, not a "begging at local churches on Sunday afternoon".
Yes, I would hope that a community....town, church, etc, would want to help a handicapped girl. I would certainly hope that people would be so kind.
This just happens to be a raffle where the funds will be raised and some lucky winner will get an iPad.

 

[undertheradar]

We collected the $400 donations towards the purchase of the prizes.

Other donations, as mentioned, are extremely hard to find at this time of year because of teacher appreciation, after prom party looking for endlyess prizees, etc. So, overall not a great time to be solicitating.

The biggest debate is the amount of prized: one grand prize versus 3 prizes in total.

The next debate is over the selling price. I am a firm beleiver that if we are to allow the children to participate then the starting price needs to be $1 per ticket, 6 for $5 OR flat out $5 per ticket.
The larger ticket price, to me , would be exclude many students from participating. Most kids (at least around here ) do not carry $5 on them.

So.....not sure if that clears anything up or just adds to the confusion.

Any more comments???

So you solicited $400.00 to buy the prize and then had an ipad donated? So now you can buy the other prizes to have a better chance of receiving funding.

Since you come here to the boards and have these amazing opportunities for you and your kids, it is troubling how much concealed begging you do. What school is this and where is it located? There are posters here from all over the globe and if you provided more details it may be possible that someone here knows of a charity or organization that may match what funds you raise. While we all want to believe that you have good intentions, there is a very long track record of hardship and need posted by you.

 

[Scurvy]

Well now I'm even more confused

If Charities can't help - then why can the Band Booster Club hold a charity auction.

Only "some" charities can help?
Only "non-sanctioned, unofficial" charities can help?

If her parents "can't be involved" then how can they show up at the meeting to explain things? Are they going to wear disguises?

I agree with this. I hate to say it, but I'd steer clear of this whole raffle if I were you, OP. it sounds like someone isn't being honest about what's really going on. The story just doesn't make sense at all. Even if the child would have to give up the old wheelchair if she gets a new one, it shouldn't matter - she has one chair now, and she would have one (nicer) wheelchair afterward. There should be no reason she would lose future benefits just because someone donated a nicer chair. There's no way I would get involved in this - it sounds too much like a scam. Hopefully someone at the meeting will realize how suspect this is and will figure out a way to help the family go through proper channels to get a new wheelchair, if that's really what they want to do.

 

[allison443]

From what I understand, it looks like it will be one prize = iPad for $5/ticket. The iPad was donated, so no cost. They need to sell 500 tickets to make their goal. This is not just the band doing it....it is at least 2 schools and the public, trying to reach out to as many as possible.

Also, the second chair will not replace her other wheelchair. The new wheelchair will be used at the school setting and other outdoor events.

If they are only giving the one prize (donated ipad) what about the money that was going to use to buy the other prizes? I think you said $400? Can that just go towards the wheelchair purchase? That way you need to sell fewer tickets.
I have to agree with others who have posted-if you have two schools and the public involved I would think you could get that amount just in donations without even having a raffle

 

[YankeePrincess]

So the wheelchair is 2500.00.

Who donated the Ipod, IPad and ITouch?

I feel like for the amount of money those 3 things are together with the Itunes gift cards, they could have just donated money toward the 2500.00.

 

[cornflake]

I really don't get the cheaper ticket should = more prizes on offer and more expensive tickets should = 1 prize on offer calculation.

Why wouldn't it be the other way round?

Also don't understand, given the prizes were donated, why they wouldn't be on offer for either raffle scenario.

 

[mdsoccermom]

If you only raffle off one prize, why will happen to the money that was donated for the other two? Surely the donors of that money are expecting to see multiple prizes on the ticket?

What kind of accountability and oversight is there? This whole thing sounds very shady and poorly run.

 

[Swan4Me]

The long story short.....

She has a wheelchair that was provided (thru insurance with maintenance for 3 yrs). This wheelchair is not "breathable" so she gets very hot in it. At her elementary school is was not an issue because it was a brand new school with great air, however at the 50 yr old middle school the air control is iffy...if its hot, its really hot. So there are days she cannot come to school or leaves 1/2 day because she gets too hot (parents have had to ice her down to bring down temp).
.

A teacher brought this to the attention of the band, knowing that there are kind, thoughtful folks who will get things done. .

But its only March-I live further south than you and we havent gotten a really hot day yet-but these parents are icing down this child?

Lets have a fund raiser for better AC!

 

[crashbb]

But its only March-I live further south than you and we havent gotten a really hot day yet-but these parents are icing down this child?

Lets have a fund raiser for better AC!

I've never heard of a wheelchair causing someone to overheat so much that they need to be iced down. Yes, they can get sticky and uncomfortable, but they aren't fully enclosing the person sitting on it and shouldn't cause someone to overheat to that extent. Particularly since we aren't talking about insane temperatures - other kids are in the building and no one else is passing out due to the heat (if they are, the wheelchair is not where the fundraising money needs to be going).

 

[clanmcculloch]

If a child is THAT prone to overheating then the parents should have already been given recommendations by their child's doctors for cooling vests and other cooling apparatuses. If the child's doctors have not made such recommendations then they're irresponsible. If the parents haven't informed the doctors that the overheating is happening then the parents are doing their child a serious disservice.

A new wheelchair will not solve this problem.

 

[tar heel]

I'm assuming the PTO or some other bona fide charity is running your raffle -- right? Otherwise, it's not legal in North Carolina, so there's no reason for this discussion.

I'm not a fan of raffles, but if I had to choose I would never charge $5 unless you had a big prize. An Ipod isn't enough.

If this child truly needs a wheelchair and insurance, Medicaid, Easter Seals, etc., is not supplying one, I think many parents would write a check if you just let them know the situation. I would.

 

[Calliaz]

Just because everyone else does a raffle does not mean it is legal for you to do one. Also, I know that in our state you CANNOT sell tickets to children under 18 along with a host of other requirements. I run a 50/50 raffle for our PTA and I have to prepare written rules and post them, make sure that only PTA members sell tickets, have no underage buyers, do daily money counts, etc. I want to do these things because they protect me and the PTA.

 

[valee]

And then there's the approach of just getting an appropriate seat cushion for the wheelchair. Just as you can get seat cushions for your car if it has hot, sticky vinyl seats, there are seat cushions available for wheelchairs that have better airflow. Fancy ones can cost several hundred dollars, but that's still less than $2000.

 

[friend2Figment]

My BFF in high school was wheelchair bound and our school raised funds to purchase a special chair for her to be able to "run" a marathon. Before any fund raising was done the school checked with the family to make sure they would not loose any benefits or be punished financially.

This fundraiser sounds like to could be doing a greater dis-service to this student (if they could loose future benefits) than the good. If they are truely wheelchair bound they may need those benefits for the rest of their life, so be sure to take that into account. If they are still growing they should be able to get a new chair (covered by benefits) once their weight is no longer safe for the current one.

Also if this chair you are raising funds for is not taking place of her current one and is only going to be used at school or outdoor activities I personally would not choose to support it. Unless it was my BFF and I knew I was not going to cause her to loose any benefits.

 

[momxx5]

FWIW: Mr Girlfriend, no one here needed that kind of money for WDW trip, you were referencing a different poster who was taking multiple trips. Not even sure why you took time to find that thread.
The WDW Band trip was around $500. There were "spaces" available on the trip and the director decided who would get those spaces. I later found out that a few chaperones even got to go for deeply discounted price because they were short on chaperones. AND they all had a great time. There were with 2 other bands and marched ahead of the Electric Parade...going behind scenes and all. An awesome trip to remember. I could PM you the youtube video of the trip if you are interested!

As far as losing future benefits, etc...that has been cleared by the family, social worker, etc. and while I appreciate the concern it wasn"t really the thread question.

Again:
Question was to ask if
A) you would rather see a $1/ticket, 6 tickets for $5 raffle
OR
b) $5 per ticket

FOR:
A) 3 prizes....grade prize =$500+ iPad
OR
B) one prize = iPad (donated), with additional donated funds of $400 going to fund.

Any of the above cominations.
Plain and simple. I have heard lots of opinions on both sides of the cost and was wondering what a budgeter would pay.
However, it goes off topic and turns into a "conspiracy theory".

Thanks for all the replies.