Ronald McDonald House Charity Communications will have a reverse raffle 7 p.m. Saturday in the Don Morris Room located in the Memorial Student Center.
Maggie Smith, assistant director of RMHC Communications and chair of promotions, said all proceeds will benefit the RMH.
“The event is to help them [RMH] obtain some funding that they desperately need to keep the house going and to be able to offer the same kind of quality that people are accustom to when they think of the RMH,” said Jessica Ross, director of RMHC Communications.
Participants will receive a ticket number when they pick up their ticket.
Throughout the night, ticket numbers will be drawn. The last number drawn will win $2500.
When there are five or 10 ticket numbers left, one ticket is auctioned off.
This will allow attendees to buy their way back into the raffle. Participants who are still a part of the raffle can also bid on the ticket to increase their chances.
The last three participants in the raffle will have the opportunity to split the prize money. If one person does not agree, then the raffle will continue until one winner is drawn.
The event will feature appetizers, an open bar from 7-8:30 p.m. and live music. Tim Irr from WSAZ will host the event.
The RMH is an organization that provides families a home when their children need care away from their home. The RMH raises sixty percent of its funds for the organization through grants and fundraising.
Last fall, the public relations students created ideas for their campaign, Ross said. The RMHC Communications team began working with the RMH in January through events and fundraisers for the organization.
Smith said she is a volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House and the organization has helped her team throughout the campaign.
“I love the RMH,” Smith said. “I’ve been a volunteer there since December of 2013, so they’ve had a long history with me personally. As a campaign, they’ve been really wonderful working with us and acknowledging that we are students, but letting us really run the campaign and helping us when we need them.”
Ross said the team sold its maximum amount of tickets and have raised $9,000 so far for the campaign. She believes RMH can achieve its fundraising goal.
“I believe in my team,” Ross said, “and I believe it is absolutely possible now to meet our $10,000 goal.”
Mikaela Keener can be contacted at [email protected].