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United Way nets Jets tickets

Hopes to surpass fundraising goal with raffles

By: Geoff Kirbyson

Posted: 01/5/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Enlarge Image

Scott Sime holds handfuls of Jets tickets to be raffled off, including a luxury box for the Feb. 17 game.

The United Way is hoping to reach -- and surpass -- its annual fundraising goal by getting caught up in the Jets stream.

The granddaddy of Winnipeg charities is raffling off a luxury box for the Feb. 17 game between the Winnipeg Jets and the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins. The prize, which is valued at more than $5,600 and includes a $2,000 food and beverage tab, was donated by the North West Company.

Edward Kennedy, CEO of the Winnipeg-based firm, is also the chairman of this year's United Way campaign, but he's far from the only contributor to the raffle. Members of its cabinet, as well as volunteers and friends, also stepped up with 15 pairs of premium tickets to seven other games, most of which are in the coveted P1 area. Two pairs of tickets are in other luxury suites.

"The idea came up at a cabinet meeting," said Scott Sime, the United Way's vice-president of marketing. "Volunteers said, 'We have Jets tickets and we would donate them if you could auction them off.' Somebody else said, 'Why not put together some awesome tickets and create the ultimate Jets raffle?' We don't do a lot of raffles, but with all these donated tickets, we thought, 'Holy smokes, how can we not do it and tap into the energy in the community right now?' "

Fundraising this year is still $45,000 short of the $19.7-million goal. Sime said if all 20,000 of the $20 raffle tickets are sold, another $400,000 will be available to help the more than 100 partner agencies it supports around town. Sime said the United Way has just started to promote the raffle via social media and it certainly didn't hurt to have Jets winger Evander Kane tweet about it a couple of day ago.

He said even though this year's running total is more than was raised last year and $45,000 might not seem like a large amount in the big scheme of things, nobody is about to give up.

"We'd be doing a disservice if we said, 'That's good enough.' There are still opportunities for people to make a difference by providing more space for a homework club, a lunch program or companionship for elderly people through Meals On Wheels."

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca

WANT a piece of the United Way's Jets action?

Raffle tickets can be purchased online at www.sweetseats.ca or over the phone at 924-6410.

Sales close on Feb. 7 and the draw will be made on Valentine's Day. Tickets are available to see the Colorado Avalanche (Feb. 19), Tampa Bay Lightning (Feb. 23), Edmonton Oilers (Feb. 27), Florida Panthers (March 1), Buffalo Sabres (March 5), Dallas Stars (March 14) and Carolina Hurricanes (March 18).

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 5, 2012 A2

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