Day 116

I try to participate in several fundraisers every year. I think it's so important to give back, in whatever way you can. I have always been a supporter of the American Heart Association (big suprise), and I do what I can to support my son's PTO through all the fun, different events they have throughout the year.

But my favorite by far is the TWIG 11 Run for the Roses event that supports our local Children's Medical Center. They run with a Kentucky Derby theme, and at $35 per ticket, it's a great way to participate in a more formal event that still packs in fun for everyone, no matter how much money you may choose to spend. Plus, we get to wear hats- the big "Southern Lady" kind. How can I resist that?!

But I come to win. That's right. I save up my Mad Money for this event, because the prizes and raffles are awesome. It's a ladies-only event, so the vast majority of gifts are female oriented. They had so many ways to win this year:

- The traditional 50/50 tickets, only $5 for an armlength and the winner got $250

- The $250 dollar bouqet of roses- meaning you bought a raffle ticket for $1 and the winner got $250 plus the roses

- Mystery Boxes- Little petit four cakes in individual boxes were $5 each. 10 boxes had winning stickers on the inside, which correlated with a mystery gift bag. Bags held everything from Papmpered Chef to Yankee Candle to DIAMOND EARRINGS

- The Wine Wall- For $20 you bought a bottle of wine, many of which were worth more than $20. You drew a number out of a jar, which corresponded with one of the wine bottles on the wall. If the bottle had a sticker on the bottom of it, you won a prize. If it didn't, your number went into a drawing for a $500 gift certificate to The Greene (an outdoor, upscale shopping mall).

- Silent Auction- About 50 different things were up for grabs, from frames to liquor, to home decor. There were Kate Spade purses and jewelry, as well as Michael Kors wallets as well...

- Basket Raffles- These are HUGE themed gift baskets and packages, all worth anywhere from $100 to probably $400. Again, raffle tickets sold for only $1 each.

- Live Auction- These were the big winners. Gift packages valued at anywhere from $400-$2250 were on the ticket. Lots of tables pooled their money together, splitting the goodies since they were so large. You should have seen the women fighting over the Coach/Michael Kors basket...

So, as you can see, anyone could particpate. And participate I did. But it was well worth it.Instead of going to Vegas or "the boat" to gamble and wonder where my money went, I knew it was going to a good cause even if I didn't win a thing.

But boy, oh, boy that wasn't the case this year.

I came home with an entire serving tray full of petit fors and a beautiful home decor piece (silent auction), a bottle of wine (Wine Wall),a bag full of coctail drink mixes (Mystery Boxes), and the biggest gift package from the basket raffles, which included 3 large potted plants, a hanging lantern, ceramic bird bath, ceramic tanle, and $75 in gift certificates to gardening centers.

So a huge thank you to TWIG 11 for another year of fun and prizes. It was a great way to have a beautiful lunch with friends and give to charity, even if I wouldn't have won anything. Today's picture celebrates being lucky, as well as the importance and joy of giving.