Like most nonprofit organizations, when the pandemic hit, the team at LifeStream Blood Bank was forced to cancel all their in-person fundraising events. LifeStream is a nonprofit, local, comprehensive blood bank that provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals in six counties. As an organization that relies on both blood donations and financial donations in order to help save lives, they knew they had to come up with an alternative plan.
To that end, the LifeStream Dream Raffle was created, to be LifeStream’s primary fundraiser of 2020. “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing issues, we were forced to cancel our two main fundraising events scheduled for this fall,” said Rick Axelrod, MD, LifeStream’s president, CEO and medical director. “We created the Dream Raffle to help raise funds and also provide supporters with the chance to win some great prizes just in time for the holidays.”
Working with the Hunter | Johnsen team, KESQ News Channel 3 quickly came on board as Presenting Sponsor, offering promotion of the Raffle through airtime, spokesperson endorsement featuring Meteorologist Patrick Evans, interviews, and digital advertising. Television (which can be viewed here), digital ads, print ads, flyers and posters were developed – designed to relay the excitement of the promotion, and to capture the spirit of the raffle that the LifeStream team was looking for.
The Raffle will run for three months and offers more than $25,000 in prizes. Top prizes include $5,000 cash and a “spring break” vacation package to Orlando, Florida. Tickets are a mere $10 each; $50 for six; and $100 for 13. Raffle proceeds will be used to support the purchase of new blood collection and testing equipment so that LifeStream can increase its capacity to collect more blood in the community.
Tickets may be purchased through November 30 by calling 909-386-6840 Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Information on other payment options and a complete list of prizes and raffle details may be found at LStream.org/raffle. All who purchase tickets by October 31 are eligible for an early-bird drawing for a chance to win a $300 VISA® gift card.
All prizes are donated or sponsored by local businesses. Dream Raffle sponsors include KESQ News Channel 3 (Presenting Sponsor), OneLegacy (Premier Sponsor), Pacific Premier Bank, CT Coachworks, Vitalant, Sunrise Company, Eisenhower Health, Sam’s Club, Desert Oasis Healthcare, and American Business Bank.
