Dinner in Paris? Lunch in Tahiti? School fundraiser offers a meal ticket anywhere in the world

SALEM — From auctions and golf tournaments to lawn flamingos and rubber duck races, it's all been done when it comes to fundraisers — or so you thought.

The Foundation for Salem Public Education, which provides grants to the schools, has dreamed up a raffle with a global, gustatory flair.

The grand prize? Dinner for two anywhere in the world, hotel and airfare included.

"We wanted this 'Wow!' factor," said Marcie Clawson, a foundation volunteer. "We give grants with the idea of doing something phenomenal for children in the classroom, so we thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to provide adults with an amazing opportunity?'"

The raffle, called "Food For Thought," kicks off today, and tickets are on sale around the city. The winner will be drawn on Halloween on the Essex Street pedestrian mall.

Whether their dream is San Juan, Sienna or Sidney, the globe-trotting winners will enjoy two nights at their desired destination with $250 for dinner, $350 per night for the hotel stay, and airfare. The cash value of the prize is as much as $4,000.

"If someone wants to go all the way to Australia for two nights, all the more power to them," said Clawson, a member of the foundation's development committee and a co-organizer of the raffle. "People at the foundation talked about it — Italy, Paris, Scotland or Sweden — there are just a lot of great possibilities."

Organizers hope the raffle tickets aren't tough to swallow, either, at a cost of $5 per ticket, or $20 for five.

"A lot of raffles that have a great grand prize sell tickets for $125 or $200," said Clawson. "That excludes a whole group of people, and we want the whole Salem population and surrounding area to be able to participate."

In addition to donations from the Salem Five and Sovereign banks to sponsor the raffle, dozens of local restaurants and food merchants donated gift certificates that will be drawn as secondary prizes on Halloween.

"Everyone was really generous," said Clawson, "and they've all been hit up so many times by so many people."

The Foundation for Salem Public Education is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1994, that awards grants to teachers and administrators in the Salem schools for items not covered by the budget. The foundation gives away roughly $35,000 annually.

Its board members include State Rep. John Keenan, board president, and School Committee member Nate Bryant.

The Foundation's biggest annual fundraiser is the spring auction at the Hawthorne Hotel, but the group is looking to expand its donor pool, and it hopes the raffle will accomplish that. Foundation volunteers plan to sell tickets on the pedestrian mall every weekend to take advantage of the October crowds.

"We rely so much on people from Salem and the businesses to support our schools," said Clawson. "One of our target audiences for this is tourists."

Jet Blue is also listed as a lead raffle sponsor because it has offered to donate the two plane tickets if the winner chooses a destination that Jet Blue flies to, which includes cities throughout the United States and the Caribbean. Linda Blier Design on Broad Street designed the neon green raffle tickets, free of charge.

The foundation has high hopes that the new "Food for Thought" raffle can drum up as much as $20,000 and become an annual fundraiser.

Volunteer Justine Bassett, who has organized the raffle with Clawson, designed a "Food For Thought" float that will debut tomorrow night in the Haunted Happenings Parade.

"We really want more parents and teachers aware of the Foundation," said Clawson. "We would like to see more teachers apply for grants, and we want to be able to give more."

The schools have chipped in and will send fliers home with students. To sweeten the deal, the Chamber of Commerce will grant the school with the most raffle tickets sold per student a spot in the first section of next year's Haunted Happenings parade, according to Clawson.

"Almost all the schools have agreed to help sell tickets," said Clawson, "which is very nice."

The Foundation's development committee has been working on the raffle since last spring, and has drafted contest rules that were reviewed by a lawyer. Such an elaborate contest has required a great deal of work, with lots of details to iron out.

"It's already been an exciting adventure," Clawson said during an interview yesterday morning at her house on Skerry Street, where she lives with her husband, Robert, and their children Skyler, 6, and Sierra, 4.

"We're just really excited about someone winning, and finding out where they want to go, and having this experience."

Drawing: On Oct. 31, tickets will still be sold until 2 p.m. on the Essex Street pedestrian mall. Prize drawing is at 3 p.m. at the Fountain Stage

Where to buy raffle tickets: On sale at the following stores: Cabin Fever, Pamplemousse, The Picklepot, the Trolley Depot, The Salem Witch Museum, Waters & Brown, and Witch City Thrift and Consignment.

For details and contest rules, visit the Foundation for Salem Public Education's Web site, www.salemedfoundation.org.

Photos

The Foundation for Salem Public Education, which raises money for Salem schools, is raffling off a meal anywhere in the world. The foundation is making a float for the Halloween parade, where they will announce the raffle. Marcie Clawson of Salem works on decorations for the float. Staff Photographer