No Joke! $pring Ka-Ching 50/50 Draw Starts April 1!
It may be launching on April Fool’s, but it’s no joke! Port Cares’ sixth online 50/50 draw will guarantee someone taking home at least $5,000 in ‘Spring Ka-Ching!’
Go to www.portcares5050.ca starting at 12:01am to get tickets, priced at five for $10, 20 for $20 or 100 for $40.
An early bird draw will take place at 2:00pm on April 14th, to win a 50” RCA 4K Smart TV, donated by Winn Plumbing and Heating. The lucky Early Bird winner will also be eligible to win the cash draw.
The draw for the ‘Spring Ka-Ching’ takes place at 2:00pm on April 29th and the winner is guaranteed to take home at least $5,000.
Weather-permitting, the agency hopes to get outside to sell tickets in their parking lot on Market days in April. Those dates will be the 14, 22 and 29 and folks can use cash outside or debit / credit inside the main entrance.
The biggest draw winner so far took home almost $43,000. A total of over $161,000 has been won in Port Cares’ draws which began in the summer of 2020. Four of the winners were from Port Colborne and one from Welland-- even though anyone in Ontario 18+ can purchase tickets.
“Our online draws have been such a great success and have become our flagship fundraiser since the pandemic,” says Christine Clark Lafleur, executive director at Port Cares. “Spring is in the air and we can’t wait to see who will take home the Spring Ka-Ching!”
Since the on-set of the pandemic, Port Cares has had a 35 percent increase in people accessing their services. They’re helping more people than ever before, with less opportunities for fundraising and altered services.
“The draws have been a lifeline to support our foodbank, hot meal program, school lunch program and more,” explains Clark Lafleur. “These types of programs don’t receive any government funding which leaves it to use to fundraise each year, which has certainly pivoted over the past two years.”
Losing the proceeds of major fundraising events like the annual auction gala has left a shortfall of $150,000 – funds depended on to operate the agency’s charitable services like the foodbank which does not receive any form of government funding.
Many thanks to Winn’s Plumbing & Heating for donating the 50-inch TV for our Early Bird prize.
Winners Re-cap:
September 2020 – Michael Mamo of Port Colborne: $19,830
January 2021 – Marion Minor of Port Colborne: $27,465
June 2021 – Tami Reimer of Welland: $42,660
Sept 2021 – Bruce Wilson of Port Colborne: $34,155
January 2022 – Kathy Pitkin of Port Colborne: $37,505
Since 1986, Port Cares has offered a multitude of services for people, young and old, not only in Port Colborne, but also across Niagara including Lincoln, West Lincoln, Welland, Pelham and Fort Erie. They offer housing, employment training, a foodbank, Niagara Youth Justice services, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, a meal program, utility assistance, counselling and crisis services- as well as seasonal programs like Coats for Kids, Give a Gift and more. Their services are wide-ranging - the need is undeniable.
