WINNING TICKET TO BE DRAWN AT THE JUNE 26 WHEELS FESTIVAL

By Austin Arnold, BGSU intern
Through a new fundraiser just launched by the Bluffton Lions Club, you could enter to win a Corvette and help out a local charity at the same time.

A 1990 red Chevrolet Corvette this week has been unveiled as the prize of the Bluffton Lions Foundation Charity Corvette Raffle. The winning ticket will be drawn during the 43rd annual Bluffton Festival of Wheels on June 26, 2010.

But, in the mean time, tickets will be distributed to local charities and non-profit organizations to sell for $2 each or 3 tickets for $5. Bluffton Lions Foundation President Dick Ramseyer said he hopes the raffle will generate the interest of 30 charities or more.

"We have a number of charities already on board that caught wind of the raffle early," he said. "So we're expecting around the neighborhood of 30 to 35 charities or so to get involved in the fundraiser. Ideally, each charity could make $2,000 to $3,000 each, and we're hoping to generate $50, 000 altogether."

The idea for this raffle was inspired by the success of a number of Corvette raffles conducted by the Pottsville (Pennsylvania) Lions Club.
Dick McGarrity, vice president of Bluffton Lions Foundation, said the desire to grow the organization's mission is why the Bluffton Lions are launching this fundraiser.

"We really want to do more for the community than what we are already," McGarrity said. "The Pottsville Lions Club has been raffling off Corvettes for charity for 15 years and they have been able to raise over $100,000 in just one raffle. And, Pottsville is a small community, comparable to our community here."

Ramseyer also stated why the Corvette raffle was chosen as a fundraiser.

"The Pottsville Lions have designed the model for this type of fundraiser very well and it's good, and just as well as important, to work with such a proven program," he said.

This fundraising program will intend to help the charities in the Bluffton community as well as the ones in surrounding communities and counties. One hundred percent of the revenue generated from raffle tickets purchased from the Bluffton Lions Foundation will belong to each participating charity.

The Bluffton Lions Foundation's generated revenue through this program will be used for Bluffton community service projects like the development of the Bluffton pedestrian and bike pathway throughout the village.

The 1990 Corvette being raffled off has about 39,000 miles and still has its original red paint. Ramseyer and McGarrity have both seen the car in person and say that it has been well maintained over the 20 years it has been around.

"This car was in a showroom at one time and it's difficult to find a scratch on it. It really looks like a brand new car," Ramseyer said.

McGarrity was also impressed with the appearance of the Corvette.

"A kind of car like this is hard to come by, when talking about the kind of quality and condition it's in," he said.

The Corvette was donated by a collaboration of sponsors such as Bud's Chevrolet and Corvette, Arby's, Tom Ahl Family Dealerships, Don Snyder Excavating Unlimited Inc., Ken Lugibhl Auto & Truck Center and Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services.

Ramseyer and McGarrity said that the Bluffton Lions Foundation will look to continue this fundraiser in years to come. In the future they are hoping to generate $100,000 overall through more Corvette raffles.

Organizations participating in the selling of tickets for the raffle can have the car displayed at a specific event by request. For further information and details on the Bluffton Lions Foundation Charity Corvette Raffle visit www.blufftonlionsfoundation.org.

This is the first feature story by Austin Arnold, a BGSU journalism intern, writing this winter and spring for The Bluffton Icon.