NITRO, W.Va. — Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said the city has “a long ways to go” on selling tickets for its Boomtown Bash, which is set to be held in August.
Only 800 tickets have been sold for the first-time drawing, in which more than $500,000 prizes will be up in a raffle. $100 raffle tickets are being sold as well as tickets for a 50/50 drawing, which is estimated to have a jackpot of $100,000. Youth organizations are selling tickets for the raffle, with proceeds going to the Greater Nitro Youth Foundation to be shared among various groups.
“Our goal is to sell 10,000 (tickets), but anytime you do this the first year it’s difficult,” Casebolt said, adding a more reasonable goal is 5,000 tickets.
Casebolt said rather than each program holding a fundraiser, this will allow groups to sell items only once a year to a shared account. He added children who begin in one program will benefit from the financial contributions made to programs to older children.
“What we’re trying to do is very unique,” he said. “We’re trying to create a culture of success where we give the kids the tools to accomplish what their goals are. if we can pull this off, it will be a tremendous benefit to the city.”
Casebolt noted how if the program is successful, Nitro Elementary School alone could receive $40,000, which would be used to purchase iPads and hire part-time technology and art teachers.
“Every kid has a skill,” he said. “All you have to do is provide them the opportunity to build that skill, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Prizes include a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, a vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida and cash prizes of up to $10,000.
Tickets for the Aug. 4 event can be purchased at here.