Rebuilding Warriors Raffle

By Carolina Guerra | Published by March 16, 2018

Raffles are great, but what makes Kean’s Rebuilding Warriors Raffle a must-purchase is not only the reward for the three lucky Kean students, but also the benefit that goes to the veteran behind the raffle.

Student Government Organization created the raffle to raise funds to donate professionally trained service dogs to a Kean student-veteran, and if they raise enough money, they will donate another service dog to an Ocean County College veteran as well. The money will be donated to Rebuilding Warriors to train the dogs as stated on Cougar Link.

“We voted on it last year. Every year Student Org has a service project, and this is our service project for this year,” said Francisco Reyes, vice president of student organization.

“So usually, we have Relay for Life, however, we don’t have it this year, so we had to come up with a new community service and this is one of the great ones we came up with,” said Damion Wilson, president of student organization.

Student Government is close to reaching their financial goal for the raffle.

“We are almost there, the last time I checked, we were at $18,000,” said Reyes. “We were trying to finish up by February, but the month is a little short so we’re going to try to finish by March,  just as long as we’re done by the semester. We’re going to award two dogs and that was our plan from the beginning.”

“This is very important,” said Wilson. “Our veterans do suffer sometimes from different types of trauma, and we want to give back to them. We want to let them know we’re here by their side and we support them every step of the way. And that’s what buying these tickets entitles, that support. That’s our main focus. We want to get two dogs to our veterans to let them know that we’re here for them.”

“By them entering the raffle, you have a chance to win money,” added Reyes. “It’s $5, so even if you don’t win the raffle, it goes to a great cause. It’s a veteran, but it’s also a veteran-student, so they go to Kean. You’re helping a fellow classmate of yours that goes to Kean University, studies here and just needs extra help.”

The raffle started on Nov. 20 and the drawing will be on May 1 in the Miron Student Center patio. Each ticket costs five dollars and the prizes will be given via Visa Gift Card. First prize is $1500, second prize is $1000, and third is $500.

You can buy tickets at the Miron Student Center in rooms 304 and 309 Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or Hutchinson Hall, room J130 from Mon.- Thurs., 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

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