Gourmet Lawn Party bets on local children

Odds of winning at Powerball: one in 175,223,510.

Odds of winning the grand raffle prize of a 2013 Ford Fusion or $10,000 cash at the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key’s Gourmet Lawn Party: one in 400.

Sure, the Powerball prize is bigger. (The Nov. 9 estimated jackpot was $87 million.)

But the payoff of the Kiwanis Club raffle goes beyond the prize: Even if you’re one of the 399 raffle entrants who doesn’t walk away with the car, you get the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped local students through the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key Foundation.

Second prize is a painting of an Italian village scene by Marco Island artist Malenda Trick.

Third prize is a weekend stay at the Usepa Island home of U.S. Rep. Vern and Sandy Buchanan.

“ … Longboat has a charitable soul, and every year we’ve held the raffle, we’ve ended up selling all the tickets. This year, we’re doing what we can to raise more money as our foundation’s identity is becoming more public from our past successes,” wrote Kiwanis Club Secretary John Wild in an email to the Longboat Observer.

Not a betting man (or woman)?

Still plan on attending the Lawn Party from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Islandside golf course, 301 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

You’ll get to sample signature dishes from 30 local restaurants, along with beverages provided by Gold Coast Eagle Distributing, Sysco, Premier Beverage, Coca-Cola and Southern Wine & Spirits, plus creations by Exotica Florist for $25 ($30 at the gate).

But you don’t have to think of the raffle as a bet. Every ticket is also a donation to the Kiwanis Foundation — that just so happens to come with a chance to win a prize.

Last year’s event raised approximately $50,000, but Kiwanis members hope to top that by raising $75,000 this year.

One way the club will raise additional revenue is by expanding its reserved seating at the luncheon, from 26 tables last year to 40 this year. And response to the expansion shows why you have to act fast when it comes to this event: As of Oct. 31, all reserved seats had sold out.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected]