February 17, 2010                                                                                                                                                    

CONTACT:                                                                                                                                                             

Debra Carnes – 253.284.2533, 206.669.6559 (cell), dcarnes@jayray.com

Michele Murray wins $10K in Early Bird Raffle

Unemployed since last fall, winner ecstatic about holding winning ticket

Tacoma, Wash. –Tacoma’s Broadway Center for the Performing Arts made Michelle Murray’s Valentine’s Day more special than she could have even imagined. Her LIVE LARGE: Tacoma Dream Home Raffle ticket was drawn in the first Early Bird on Sunday evening, making her the sole recipient of $10,000 cash.

Murray, who resides in Kirkland, was laid off in October and admits the news couldn’t have come at a better time. “It will certainly help cushion the blow. I’ll pay off my credit card and I definitely want to give a portion to charity,” she added.

Tickets sales picked up their pace over the weekend leading up to the first Early Bird drawing, with more than 500 tickets sold over Presidents’ holiday weekend.

“We’re pleased with our tickets sales,” said David Fischer, Broadway Center’s executive director.  “This is an important effort to bring greater visibility to Tacoma and help sustain the arts well into the future.” Proceeds from the LIVE LARGE: Tacoma Dream Home Raffle will help strengthen the “brand of Tacoma” and build a “rainy day” fund for the Center.

The next Early Bird drawing occurs on Tax Day, April 15, when another ticket holder will win $10,000 in cash. Both early bird winners will remain eligible for the grand prize drawings on June 26.

If the sales threshold of 17,000 tickets sold is met, the big winner will receive their choice of a Tacoma  dream home overlooking Commencement Bay or $600,000 cash.  First prize is a three-year lease on a Toyota Prius or $7,500 cash; second prize is a luxurious 10-day cruise for two on Holland America Line or $5,000 cash; third prize is seven days of lodging in Bali, Indonesia or $1,500 cash; and fourth prize is $1,000 cash.

Tickets are $99 and are available for purchase online at www.tacomaraffle.org or by calling 877.622.4511.  Every ticket purchase comes with $350 in discount coupons for hotel nights, jewelry, wine, art, theater tickets and more.  A maximum number of 34,000 tickets will be sold, making the odds of winning one of the seven major prizes less than one in 5,000.

The Broadway Center was founded in 1979, bringing arts to the area and providing many public benefits to South Puget Sound patrons.

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The Broadway Center for the Performing Arts gratefully acknowledges the following for support of the 2009-10 Season: ArtsFund, Ben B. Cheney Foundation, The Boeing Company, City of Tacoma, Forest Foundation, The News Tribune, The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Pierce County Arts Commission and Sequoia Foundation Pierce County Program. Become a supporter on Facebook at Broadway Center for the Performing Arts or on Twitter at Twitter.com@BroadwayCenter

Download Broadway Center's Live Large: Tacoma Dream Home Raffle Fact Sheet.