As part of its ongoing 50th anniversary celebration, Child Development Resources is raffling off a special prize at next month’s Bid’n Buy Auction: an all-inclusive four-night Disney Bahamian Cruise.
CDR serves families with children ages zero to three who have disabilities or are in financial need. Some of its services, like free developmental screenings, are available to all families in the area. Currently, about 1,000 families in the Historic Triangle receive services from CDR each year.
In order to continue to provide its myriad services – some of which include screenings and assessments, Early Head Start, childcare programs, physical, occupational and speech therapies for children with disabilities, parenting classes, pregnancy resources and professional development for child care providers – CDR relies heavily on grants and donations from the community.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, last fall CDR announced an ambitious fundraising goal of $1 million by December 2016. The Disney cruise raffle is the headlining item at one of the organization’s most important annual fundraisers – the Bid’n Buy Auction slated for March 20 this year.
The winner of this extensive prize package will receive a $4,000 voucher toward a Disney Cruise through Pirates and Pixie Dust Destinations, as well as a consultation with an authorized Disney vacation planner who will help the winner and his or her travel companions select the ideal cruise based on their schedule and interests.
The cruise voucher can include a pre-cruise hotel stay the night before sailing at the Country Inn and Suites with shuttle service to cruise ship, which will depart from Port Canaveral, Florida. The cruise must be booked by March 31, 2017.
The winner will also receive a $1,000 gift card for travel expenses.
Event planners are hopeful that a big-ticket item like the cruise package will generate much interest in the auction. Doors for the event, which is taking place at Jamestown High School, will open a 11:30 a.m. and the raffle drawing will take place at 2:30 p.m.
Interested parties can purchase raffle tickets starting this week. Tickets are $25 each or $100 for a pack of five, and the participants do not need to be present at the time of the drawing to win.
“We’re really excited about this opportunity, and the raffle item really goes hand in hand with what we do because it’s a family friendly vacation,” said Marsha Hargette, Director of Development at CDR. “It’s fun, it’s different and we think it’s great that we get to offer such a special prize.”
Tickets can be purchased online here until noon March 18 or in person at the Bidn’ Buy Auction.