The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha’s first-ever Pay It Forward Lottery is living up to its name.
With the lottery now well underway, both of the first two early bird prize winners have chosen not to keep their prizes for themselves but instead donate them back to support the spirit of the community fundraiser.
The first two early bird prizes — a camping package from Wild Rock Outfitters and a paddleboard package from Cottage Toys — have already been drawn. In both cases, the winners decided to “pay it forward,” with one prize package donated back to Kawartha Rotary and the other being donated to a kids’ camp.
One of the donated prize packages has been put up for auction, with proceeds going back into the campaign. The paddleboard package will be donated to Camp Northern Lights for use by underserved children who attend the camp.
Jim Lowe of Assisting You Social, who has helped promote many charitable lotteries for other organizations and is supporting Kawartha Rotary with the campaign, said he has never seen anything like it before.
“The spirit of the lottery has really been embraced by the public,” Lowe said. “People are not only buying tickets, they are truly paying it forward.”
Inspired by the generosity of the paddleboard package winner, Cottage Toys will now be donating the entire value of its prize package rather than providing it to Kawartha Rotary at a discounted rate as originally arranged.
Sponsored by Trent Valley Honda, the Pay It Forward Lottery features a grand prize Honda Hybrid CR-V, a 50/50 draw, and three early bird prize packages. The grand prize draw and 50/50 draw will take place at the Peterborough Folk Festival on August 15.
There is still one early bird prize remaining: a kayak package from Wild Rock Outfitters, which will be drawn at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 17.
Proceeds from the Pay It Forward Lottery will benefit five local organizations: Kawartha Food Share, Habitat for Humanity Peterborough & Kawartha Region, Right to Heal, YES Shelter for Youth and Families, and the Peterborough Folk Festival.
One hundred per cent of net proceeds from the lottery will be used to support the five local causes.
“The Pay It Forward Lottery is an exciting and meaningful way for people to come together and support organizations that are making a real difference in our community,” said campaign lead Fraser Wilson. “Every ticket purchased helps fund important local work — from food security and housing support to youth services, healing initiatives, arts and culture, and community programs that improve lives across our region.”
The Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha says the lottery is part of its long history of investing in local initiatives that improve lives and help build a stronger community.
With one early bird prize still to be won, a grand prize vehicle on the line, and a growing 50/50 draw, community members are being encouraged to buy tickets at payitforwardlottery.ca and support the campaign.
Tickets for the grand prize and remaining early bird prize cost $20 for a single ticket, $50 for a three-ticket pack, and $100 for a seven-ticket pack. Tickets for the 50/50 draw cost $10 for a five-ticket pack, $20 for a 20-ticket pack, $50 for a 100-ticket pack, and $100 for a 250-ticket pack.
