SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Drive for Schools, billed as Santa Cruz County’s largest school fundraiser, kicked off its 13th year.
Volunteers from more than 80 schools in Santa Cruz County will coordinate ticket sales for their schools, giving the community an opportunity to win a new car, cash prizes, merchandise, and gift certificates from local businesses.
Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola Auto Mall Dealer Group, this year’s Drive for Schools Grand Prize winner will choose either a new car (Toyota Prius or Subaru Outback) or $25,000 in cash. Ten $1,000 cash prizes and dozens of other prizes will be donated by local businesses.
The public can purchase tickets from school volunteers through Oct. 22. Tickets are $5 each or $25 for six.
Drive for Schools tickets include a coupon to park at the Boardwalk on Oct. 29 for the prize drawing at 1 p.m. Winners need not be present to win.
Drive for Schools has raised $4.7 million for local schools since 2005, according to organizers. Last year alone, 84 local schools raised more than $646,000. Schools use their Drive for Schools income for art, music and sports programs as well as field trips, science camp and classroom supplies.
Each school keeps all the money they raise selling tickets with no overhead costs. School volunteers received everything they need at the kick-off meeting on Sept. 13 including tickets, posters, prizes and support.
The Capitola Auto Mall Dealer Group and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk share the cost of the new car and other cash prizes and donate employee time to organize the fundraiser. Dozens of local businesses also donate prizes for the event. Hundreds of school volunteers coordinate their school’s ticket sales.
Tickets and posters are printed by Mission Printers in Santa Cruz.
Visit www.beachboardwalk.com/driveforschools for a list of participating schools, prizes, rules and ticket information.
