This year's raffle includes a "golden ticket" to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
WILBRAHAM – The Minnechaug Scholarship Foundation is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
To celebrate, the foundation announced the kickoff of its annual raffle fund-raiser by mailing raffle tickets to more than 7,000 residents of Hampden and Wilbraham.
This year’s raffle includes a “golden ticket” to celebrate the foundation’s 50th anniversary of providing scholarships to college bound students who attend Minnechaug Regional High School.
Proceeds from the raffle will be used to provide scholarships to students entering college next fall.
Ann Marie Bonsall, president of the scholarship foundation’s Board of Trustees, said that over the past 50 years more than 1,160 students have been awarded scholarships totaling $640,649.
In 1961 the Minnechaug Scholarship Foundation was established and awarded scholarships to four students for a total of $2,000, Bonsall said.
Last year the foundation awarded a record $41,450 to 59 college-bound students.
This year’s “golden ticket” offers an opportunity to win a pair of 14 karat white gold “Margarita Salt on the Rim” diamond earrings, donated by Quinn Fine Jewelers.
This year’s ticket prizes include: an AAA Driving School Course Certificate, plus a one-year membership to AAA upon completion of the course; round trip Century Limo transportation to the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut and a $200 Restaurant Golf Certificate; four Red Sox tickets in the first row behind the on deck circle; two nights, double occupancy at the Woodstock Inn and Resort in Woodstock, Vt.; a Sony BRAVIA BX300 32 inch HDTV; an IPod Touch; and a Pave Bangle Bracelet.
Raffle ticket books and a golden ticket can be purchased for $20 each or for $35 for both.
Raffle ticket stubs and money is to be sent to the Minnechaug Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 441, Wilbraham, MA, 01095-0441 no later than May 17.
Prizewinners will be drawn May 17 during the Minnechaug Regional High School Spring Concert. Attendance at the concert is not necessary to win.