The Columbus Arts Council’s Rosenzweig Arts Center is “raising the roof” with its second annual New York City Trip Raffle.
“The arts center has been in need of a new roof for a while, and all the proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward that goal,” said Executive Director Tina Sweeten. “We’re so fortunate to be able to have such a nice facility right in the heart of downtown Columbus, to offer a gallery for artists, a venue for arts and music classes, live performances, a wide range of classes and a space for other groups to meet or host events.”
Facilities, of course, require maintenance, and the nonprofit Arts Council hopes the raffle will go a long way toward underwriting the much-needed new roof that will protect the center for years to come.
The fundraiser is a partnership between the Columbus Arts Council, the Golden Triangle Regional Airport and Roberts Travel Agency in Columbus.
Retired school teacher Debbie Fancher won the inaugural New York City trip offered last fall by the Arts Council. She took her sister, who had just completed treatment for breast cancer.
“It was the most awesome trip; I can’t even come up with adjectives to describe it,” said Fancher. “It definitely lived up to its billing. And the best part was how the anticipation lifted my sister as she went through chemo and radiation; she said she would daydream about how it would be.”
Trip for two
Roberts Travel has made arrangements for a luxury, all-expense paid, trip to New York City for two people. The Golden Triangle Regional Airport is generously donating round-trip tickets from GTR airport in Lowndes County to New York.
The package includes four nights’ accommodations in the theater district, at the intimate, five-star Casablanca Hotel, a boutique hotel within one block of Times Square.
While in New York, the raffle winner and companion will have orchestra seats at two Broadway plays of their choosing. Drinks will be included at world-famous Sardi’s Restaurant in the heart of the theater district. A four-course meal for two is included at L’Ecole, the renowned training restaurant for the French Culinary Institute.
A Circle Line tour of Manhattan, by bus or boat, is part of the package, as well. Winners will have brunch at the Essex House on Central Park South — and receive a $500 Visa gift card.
David Sanders, an Arts Council board member and member of the fundraising committee said, “It’s a great value. We’re only selling 300 tickets, and the trip is worth $5,000.”
Tickets are $100 each, and will be sold through Dec. 10, unless all 300 are sold before that date.
A gala drawing will be held at the Rosenzweig Arts Center Dec. 10, between 5-6 p.m. The drawing for the trip’s winner will coincide with the closing event of the Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.”
Fancher said, “It more than lived up to expectations. It said it was a luxury trip, and it definitely was.”
The trip, coordinated by Roberts Travel Agency, can be taken between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2012 (excluding special events and holidays).
Purchase tickets at the Rosenzweig Arts Center at 501 Main St., or online at columbus-arts.org, or by contacting the CAC at 662-328-ARTS (2787).
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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