Supporters Travel to Boy Scouts’ “Around the World” Raffle Dinner

A large crowd of Boy Scout families, friends, and supporters turned out in festive force on the evening of Saturday, September 29, 2018 to embark on an extraordinary “Around the World” Gift Auction. The fundraiser was held at Port Monmouth VFW #2179, a spacious hall just off of Route 36 in Port Monmouth, NJ.

A seemingly endless array of prize baskets was displayed on long tables all around the perimeter of the banquet room, offering every imaginable surprise for the lucky winners who would bring them home at the end of the night. Guests strolled all along the line of prizes, intently examining each one before dropping their tickets into the respective raffle bags. The selection was presented at various tier levels and included everything from bottles of wine, spa treatments, restaurant gift cards, holiday decorations, and jewelry to sports memorabilia, dance lessons, game collections, theater tickets, photography sessions, dishware, and much more. Grand prizes included a vacation to Antigua with a set of luggage, a Coach bag, a set of Le Creuset cookware, a gold and pearl necklace, NJ Devils hockey tickets, NY Yankees baseball tickets, and supplies for a tailgating party. There was also a handsome cash prize that went to the winner of the 50/50 drawing. Thanks go to the nearly 80 donor businesses and individuals throughout the community, as well as the collective efforts of eight different scout troops, who so generously donated items to be raffled off.

There was a happy party atmosphere throughout the evening, as each group of guests enjoyed one other’s company – as well as a smorgasbord of food, with each table bringing their own culinary treats to feast upon, but leaving ample room afterwards for the platters of desserts supplied by the event committee. Some groups came equipped with cow bells, which they merrily clanked whenever one of their circle won a prize.

After a welcome address and expressions of gratitude by Program Director Anthony Cullen, event chair Maria Longo, with help from several volunteer runners, did a remarkable job of moving the evening along, especially in light of the huge amount of prize numbers to be called. By night’s end, as the smiling guests headed home, the successful celebration had raised needed funds to go towards area Boy Scout programs.

The Around the World Gift Auction was hosted by the Boy Scouts of America: Middlesex District, Monmouth Council; Thunderbird District, Monmouth Council; Forestburg Scout Reservation; Battleground District, Monmouth Council; Twin Lights District, Monmouth Council; Quail Hill Scout Reservation; and Monmouth Council, Boy Scouts of America.