At the end of June, 2014 Sterling Main Street kicked off sales of tickets for its first 50/50 raffle. Tickets will be on sale through the month of July. A single winner will be drawn during Sterling Main Street’s annual Music Fest on Saturday, July 26, at the Grandon Civic Center, located in the park near 3rd Avenue and E. 4th Street, Sterling, IL. Music Fest begins at 1:00 p.m.; the last band takes the stage about 8:00. It is not necessary to be present to win.
“Main Street has a number of projects and events underway,” says Janna Groharing, the organization’s Executive Director. “Ramping up our fundraising efforts for the year is just a part of the process to be able to continue to meet our goals.”
“We thought a 50/50 Raffle would be the perfect way to be able to engage the entire community in our effort to continue the revitalization of the downtown district,” says Ed Cox, Main Street’s fundraising chairperson. “We are very proud to be able to say that 100% of our fundraising dollars is put back into the community, through our activities and events.”
In addition to Main Street’s annual partnership campaign and sponsorship contributions for specific events, ongoing fundraising efforts help the organization to grow annual community events such as Movies at Grandon, Hot Dog Day, Harvest Moon Festival, and the Seasonal Sights & Sounds activities. Main Street also focuses efforts on historic preservation and downtown beautification. Lamppost flower baskets were installed earlier this summer in part of the downtown; there are plans to add additional baskets next year. Plans are in the works for historical markers to be placed on a number of significant buildings in the downtown district.
Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and will be available until July 26 at the following businesses in the downtown:
- Sterling Main Street
- Grummert’s Hardware
- SBM
- Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce
- Air Play Sports & Espresso.
Tickets will also be available at the July 26 Music Fest until 7:00 p.m. The winner will be drawn that evening around 7:45 p.m., just before the last band takes the stage.
For more information about Sterling Main Street and its programs and projects for downtown improvements, please contact them at 815-626-8610 or visit www.sterlingmainstreet.org.