Plymouth Rotary holds 66th Annual Penny Sale
Posted by Kathy Kearns on Nov 01, 2016
The Plymouth Rotary Club is gearing up for its 66th Annual Penny Sale on Saturday, November 5, 2016 -- at 7:00 p.m. at Plymouth Regional High School. The event draws over 500 fans and friends from all around the state who look forward to this evening of games of chance, several grand prize raffles, food, and music. This fun-filled family event annually supports scholarships for Plymouth Regional High School students, and admission to the event is free. Hundreds of local area businesses donate assorted prizes to support this fundraiser. The raffle prizes awarded range from the sublime to the ridiculous and have included such things as dining gift certificates, vaccinations for pets, ski passes, a kitchen sink and even dental work! Each item becomes part of a list of 50 prizes which are raffled off individually to the people who hold raffle tickets for that list. Each raffle ticket may be purchased for 50 cents, with 50 opportunities in the round for that ticket to be picked as a winner, thus the name “Penny Sale”. Five rounds of lists of 50 prizes are offered, with the last round containing prizes each worth $75 or more. Tension is high in the Plymouth High School gymnasium as tickets are drawn and the lucky winners are determined.
Seven Grand Prizes donated by Penny Sale sponsors will also be awarded to the lucky ticket holders of the Grand Prize Raffle Drawing, the final drawing of the evening. Prizes include: Two 1-week stays donated by Cold Spring Resort (a $1,000 value each); $500 cash donated by Bank of New Hampshire and Bridgewater Power Company; 100 gallons of fuel oil donated by Dead River Company; 100 gallons of fuel oil donated by Yeaton Oil; a $200 shopping spree donated by Venture Print Unlimited, Inc.; and a large handmade lap quilt donated by Sarah Bunkley. Grand Prize Ticket Holders do not need to be present to win a prize. Grand Prize Tickets may be purchased from any Plymouth Rotarian in advance of the Penny Sale, but will also be on sale during the course of the evening.
Other generous event sponsors include: The Common Man, Meredith Village Savings Bank, New Hampshire Electric Co-op, Laconia Eye and Laser Center, Woodsville Guaranty Bank, and CMD Bookkeeping.
Fun is the order of business throughout the evening, as Rotarians sell “lucky” tickets to their favorite customers and folks in the audience heckle their hosts. And there are always surprises, too. Last year, many turkeys were given away as additional prizes to lucky ticket holders – ensuring a great dinner or Thanksgiving feast for the recipients. You can bet that the Rotarians will have some tricks up their sleeves this year again, with DJ Patrick Dunaway providing musical entertainment throughout the evening, and with food for sale by PRHS students out in the hall. The Penny Sale is Plymouth Rotary’s way of helping local students prepare for the challenges that lay ahead as they approach further education after high school. The Plymouth Rotarians annually offer scholarships to assist deserving students as they seek out traditional 4-year colleges, vocational/technical training, or return to school after work experiences. Last year, 12 students received scholarships totaling $12,000.00.
The Plymouth Rotarians urge their friends and neighbors to set aside the time to enjoy a fun evening supporting a great cause. Come as a family, come as a group, or just come, it’s guaranteed to be the best show in town!