The Who, What and Why of a Raffle Ticket

On September 15th one of our most generous partners, Lend Smart Mortgage, hosts their 13th Annual Mike Lust Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Spare Key. Another of our generous partners, and our 2023 Groove Gala Presenting Sponsor, Network Title, is once again the presenting sponsor for this golf tournament.

This sold-out tournament became a literal lifeline for Spare Key in 2020 as Covid-19 grew into a global pandemic. With nearly all our events being cancelled or postponed, the CEO of Lend Smart, Scott Flaherty, who also serves on Spare Key’s Board of Directors, made the decision to proceed with the golf tournament under challenging and difficult parameters.

The event generated significant revenue for Spare Key at a time of immense uncertainty as individual, corporate and foundation donations and grants disappeared or were greatly reduced.

People who know me know I really can’t stand golf. I don’t have the patience for it nor the skill available to be any good at it. But, as much as I may not like golf, I have to be honest that golf tournaments – and those who participate in them – make a HUGE difference at Spare Key.

Every single year with every single stroke.

This year will be no different. Golfers and sponsors will gather at the Wild’s Golf Course on September 15th to enjoy a golf scramble on one of the nicest courses in Minnesota. People will be kind, generous, and supportive of one another, and of Spare Key throughout the day.

And, like last year, there are two opportunities for golfers – as well as those who will not be golfing or in attendance at the golf tournament – to buy raffle tickets for an incredible trip to Pebble Beach.

So, back to the three questions:

Why does buying a raffle ticket to win a trip to Pebble Beach matter to Spare Key? 

Who does it help?

What difference does it make?

Without the financial support of companies like Lend Smart Mortgage, Network Title and the other 26 sponsors at the Mike Lust Charity Golf Tournament, we simply cannot do the work we do to help families facing a medical crisis pay their bills.

The staff, the technology, the marketing, the accounting, the administration, the regulations, the driving, the travel, the events, the sleepless nights, the early mornings, the weekends – all of those things are just part of what goes into operating a charity to serve the needs of others. 

Do I enjoy spending most of my time as Spare Key Executive Director asking people and companies for money to support our program mission and operations? It’s not the best part of my job – but it is one of the most important parts of my job. 

When I, or my staff, are standing at a golf hole asking you to play a game – or sending out emails or posting on social media to ask you to buy a raffle ticket – we do it because if you play, or if you buy, or if you donate – you make a difference to a family. 

And, whether you donate to that family directly on www.HelpMeBounce.org or you donate to Spare Key to give us the resources we need to help more families be connected to donors so they can “Be Seen. Be Heard. Be Found.”…

You are making a difference.

If you ever questioned why it seems like we spend so much of our time and energy raising money through events – sponsorships – and direct appeals – there’s a simple Who, What and Why answer behind that question.

>> www.HelpMeBounce.org <<