Local Kids Won Big

Local kids are the winners after a successful campaign led by the Kiwanis Club of Saline.

On March 24 the Kiwanis Club of Saline staged the Inaugural 'Win Big For Kids Dinner and Raffle' at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. Partnering with other Saline organizations, , The Saline Community Fair Board, The Rotary Club, Boy Scout Troop 457, Saline Area Girl Scouts, Cadets and s, over $11,000 was raised with all proceeds going to help with the following projects:

• Saline Area Social Services to provide school clothing for Saline Area students
• Kiwanis Club to provide School supplies for the Educational Project for Homeless Youth program
• Rotary Club to help provide Thanksgiving dinners to needy families in the Saline area
• Kiwanis Club to provide funds for six children as part of the 'Warm the Children' program
• Kiwanis Club to help with Scholarships for two Saline High School Students
• 5th Corner Teen Center to update and add technology at the center
• Saline Police Cadets to send several Cadets to the National Law Enforcement Conference for Training
• Kiwanis Club to provide dictionaries to every Saline Area 3rd Grader
• Saline Community Fair for permanent signage of the Baby Animal Exhibits, to promote the Taste of Agriculture and to purchase needed supplies
• Saline Boy Scout Troop 457 to help with the purchase of a new Troop trailer for hauling camping supplies
• Saline Area Girl Scouts to support participating in Girl Scout Programs/Camps this summer
• Rotary Club to help provide a Scholarship for a Saline High School Graduate
• Kiwanis Club to help provide funds for the Saline Area Youth Baseball and Softball leagues
• Kiwanis Club to provide leadership training for two Saline students through the Kiwanis 'Key Leader' program.

In addition to the main raffle there were 'Side Board' Raffles for two iPads, a 42-inch flat screen TV as well as many cash prizes. As if that wasn't enough there were multiple 50/25/25 cash drawings and a Silent Auction. The Saline Community and local businesses were extremely generous in donating a variety of items and gift vouchers for the event.

Big prize winners for the Main Raffle were Kevin Diuble and Peter Heyn, shown in the photo, who with only two balls left to draw were given the option and agreed to split the combined first and second prizes of $5,000 and $1,000. Each of them walked away with a check for $3,000.

The goal was to sell all 200 tickets to the event, each ticket giving entry and dinner to two people as well as being the ticket for the main raffle. Not all tickets were sold this year, but with the event being so successful it is anticipated that the committee will be opting to hold it again next year.

Hopefully next year we can sell all 200 tickets, raising even more money for worthy community projects.

(This column was submitted by Phil Haigh of Kiwanis Club of Saline)