With fundraising event canceled, Hunter Hospitality House turns to raffle to raise funds

For the past several years, the annual fundraising event for the Hunter Hospitality House would help to kick off the organization’s Endowment Fund Awareness Raffle.

But the non-profit organization, like so many others this year, was forced to cancel its fundraising event – first scheduled for the spring, then rescheduled for August, and now canceled altogether – because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because they often rely upon such events to fund their operations, non-profits have been hit especially hard by the economic fallout from the coronavirus.

More than 600 tickets were sold for the fundraiser, tickets that will now be honored for next year’s event instead.

While no doubt disappointed at the event’s cancellation, the Hunter Hospitality House is moving forward with its Endowment Fund Awareness Raffle.

"With the raffle, all of the proceeds will benefit the Hunter House, including our endowment fund which is held by the Community Foundation of St. Clair County. The foundation’s investors make sure that the funds are invested wisely, which can then be granted to the Hunter House," says Tracy Willard, executive director of the Hunter Hospitality House.

"The hope is that the money in the fund grows and grows so that the Hunter House can last long after my husband and I are no longer running it."

The Hunter House actually consists of two houses. One is located across the street from McLaren Port Huron Hospital and the other across from Lake Huron Medical Center.

The houses are "kind of like bed-and-breakfasts" for people that have to go to the hospital, Willard says. People stay there for free while they or someone in their family requires medical care.

Each house is currently only hosting one family at a time due to the pandemic.

The raffle itself is currently underway with the drawing scheduled for Monday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. Tickets are $100 each and available online.

There are five prize packages available, ranging from a $5,000 vacation package for first place to a two-night stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton, with a water view, for fifth place.

"We provide free lodging for both hospitals in Port Huron. We’re committed to providing that service for free. There’s food and hygiene products included. Fundraising is the way we can provide that for free," Willard says.

"My hope is that when people stay here, I want them to have one less thing to worry about. Fundraisers like this allow us to do that."

Visit the Hunter Hospitality House online to learn more about the Endowment Fund Awareness Raffle and the organization itself.

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