Just got an awesome update from our good friends at the Long Beach-based Special Olympics Southern California!  Check it out:

Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) today launched its most ambitious fundraising campaign to date: a $2.2 million dollar house raffle or a cash payout of $1.5 million dollars.  The newly built, 5,000-square-foot Mediterranean-style custom home is located in Studio City, south of Ventura Blvd., and features 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, a 4-car garage, gourmet kitchen with granite countertops, Thermador® appliances, and a separate lit wet bar with an onyx counter top. It also includes a spectacular master suite (with its own bar and wrap-around patio), formal dining room, Travertine tile throughout, a wrought-iron spiral staircase and sweeping views. Raffle tickets are $150 each.

All net proceeds from the house raffle will benefit more than 13,000 Special Olympics athletes in Southern California. The success of the campaign will have a direct impact on athletes living in San Diego to greater Los Angeles county (LA, OC , Inland Empire) to as far north as Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo.

“This is an opportunity to raise a significant amount of money, so that we can continue to change lives through the power of sport,” said Bill Shumard, Special Olympics Southern California President & CEO.  “The funds will ensure we can expand our sports programs and serve more adults and children with intellectual disabilities—all at no cost to them or their families.” 

Since its inception in the early 1990s, house raffles have become an increasingly popular and unique way for homeowners to partner with charities to get their property sold. This is the first time SOSC has embarked on such a campaign, with its goal to raise more than $500,000.

“Nonprofits like Special Olympics Southern California need to be more creative than ever to raise money to continue their missions. A house raffle appeals to people on many levels – it provides an opportunity to live the American dream and own a home in a desirable neighborhood where housing prices are still out of reach for the average person,” said Shumard. “And with commutes getting longer and more tedious, people can have a chance to live closer to work and take advantage of the numerous entertainment venues that are close by.”

The Studio City home was made available through an anonymous donor. “Members of our extended community who were interested in supporting SOSC in its fundraising efforts made their house available for the raffle,” said Shumard. “We feel very fortunate that they were in a position to help our organization in this way.”

Those who purchase tickets before the “early bird” deadlines are eligible to win prizes leading up to the grand prize drawing. From February to May, there will be a monthly drawing for additional cash prizes that range from $1,000 to $25,000. Additional prizes will be awarded during the grand prize drawing, including a 2010 Toyota vehicle, luxury vacations and more.

There is also a “refer-a-friend” drawing, giving those who generate entries through referrals a chance to win $15,000. The entry deadline for the first drawing is February 19 and the final raffle entry drawing is May 21, 2010. A complete list of early bird drawing dates and prize categories can be viewed online at http://staging.socalraffle.com/Overview.aspx.

The grand prize drawing will be held during the annual SOSC Summer Games held at California State University Long Beach on June 13, 2010.

“The Summer Games is our largest sporting event of the year, with more than 5,000 people either participating in or attending the games,” said Shumard.  “Everyone that buys a house raffle ticket will be invited to attend our Summer Games, so they will be able to see firsthand how their donations change the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.”

A complete list of the contest rules and regulations can be viewed at www.socalraffle.com. To purchase tickets, view photos of the home, and for more information call 800-816-6108 or visit www.socalraffle.com.