NITRO, W.Va. — The City of Nitro is making it easier for students and parents to raise money for local youth programs in the area.
Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt launched a new program Tuesday that allows athletic programs, extracurricular programs and other youth activities to consolidate fundraising efforts through the Greater Nitro Youth Foundation.
“Instead of sending these kids home to sell candy bars, coupon books and standing on the street and begging for money, we’re going to come together,” Casebolt said.
Instead of conducting small fundraisers separately, the groups will raise money together for one big fundraiser called the Boomtown Bash. It’s a raffle that includes more than $500,000 in prizes to be handed out next year. Prizes include cars, a boat, motorcycle, guns, vacation packages and cash.
There are 10,000 tickets available for $100 each.
Tickets can be purchased at BoomtownBash.com.
The Boomtown Bash will raise money for the 2018-2019 school year. All money will go toward your programs in the Nitro/Cross Lanes area.
Tickets will be drawn on August 4, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The final prize will be a 2018 BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe for $50,000 cash.
The foundation is also selling tickets for a 50/50 drawing with an estimated pot of $100,000.
Four schools are participating in the effort including Nitro High, Nitro Elementary, Point Harmony Elementary and Cross Lanes Elementary.
Jason Redman, principal at Nitro High, said it’s great that these programs are coming together.
“The idea was brought up that we all come together, which people said couldn’t happen. They said there’s no way you can get little league baseball to cooperate with basketball and football, but everyone has come together. We have one goal and we have one vision,” Redman said.
The arts are also important, Redman said.
“At Nitro High School, over one quarter of our students are involved in the performing arts. The arts cost money. We have to purchase uniforms. We’re always trying to fill that with small individual fundraisers,” he said.
Last year, schools and youth organizations raised a total of $175,000 through various fundraisers. Mayor Casebolt said streamlining the funds into one big event should allow students to raise more money.
Casebolt hopes to raise as much as $750,000 through this new fundraising effort.