L’Anse Creuse Scholarship Sweepstakes offers up to $10K

With a potential opportunity to win up to $10,000 in college money, the L'Anse Creuse Foundation isn't offering the average 50/50 raffle.

This year will mark the first time the foundation has offered its Scholarship Sweepstakes raffle.

"One of our members actually attended or participated in a scholarship raffle much like this in Oakland County," said L'Anse Creuse Director for Public and Community Relations Kelly Allen.

As the Oakland County district had success with its raffle, Allen said she reached out to them prior to the start of the school year to learn how they conducted the raffle so the foundation could develop its own version.

"One of our goals was to try something to create a buzz, something different, and see how it all works out. I think there is great excitement about it," Allen said.

The winner can choose to take 50 percent of the total amount and invest it into an eligible college savings account. Allen said the minimum payout will be $1,000, while the maximum payout will be $10,000. Alternately, the winner can select the 40 percent lump sum option.

"It is the same rules as the Michigan Lottery. You must be over 18," Allen said.

Ticket purchasers do not have to live in the district in order to participate, according to Allen.

"There are multiple ways to look at it. If a student in L'Anse Creuse has a grandma and grandpa in Grand Rapids, they can purchase a ticket and have the same opportunity to win," Allen said.

The 50/50 is open to the community as a whole, even to those who have no affiliation with the district, Allen said.

"Even if it were a family or student outside of our district, the benefit to our district is the money for the foundation, which would go into the schools," Allen said.

Tickets for the L'Anse Creuse Foundation Scholarship Sweepstakes went on sale in late October and will be sold through March, with a drawing taking place at 3 p.m. March 28 at the Harry L. Wheeler Community Center and Administrative Offices. Entrants need not be present to win.

"There is no limit on how many tickets one person can buy," Allen said.

The goal is to sell at least 1,000 tickets, Allen said. Proceeds will be split equally between the foundation and the winner.

Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased by calling 586-783-6300, ext. 1214, online at lcpsfoundation.com or in the community relations office at the district's Harry L. Wheeler Community Center and Administrative Offices, located at 24076 F.V. Pankow Blvd. Clinton Township. Foundation representatives will also sell tickets at school conferences and events.

The L'Anse Creuse Foundation's mission is to generate and distribute financial and other resources to L'Anse Creuse Public Schools students for enrichment programs to enhance education. This often takes the form of teacher mini-grants, student scholarships and special projects such as movie nights or cardboard for the cardboard boat regattas hosted at the high school level in the district, said Allen.

"The foundation has been around for quite some time now, several decades," Allen said.

Nicole Tuttle is a freelance reporter for The Voice.

Source: L'Anse Creuse Scholarship Sweepstakes offers up to $10K