Treasure Beach Foundation will soon start to sell raffle tickets. The winners will receive a free full-week rental (seven nights) of a luxury villa in Treasure Beach. Raffle proceeds will benefit the scholarship fund for Treasure Beach Foundation.

If you want to get on the list to be notified of the raffles in advance of others, we need your information. Please e-mail us at TreasureBeachFound@earthlink.net with your e-mail address, full name, and full home or office mailing address (different from your e-mail address); we must have all of these to let you know about the raffles. Raffle tickets will be sold to adults only.

This is your opportunity to win a one-week stay at a beautiful villa, while also assisting the young people of Treasure Beach.

If you have friends or relatives who are also interested, you can have them sign up too. Just please sign up as soon as possible.

What will the cost of each raffle ticket be?

Until our Board makes a final decision on pricing, all I can say is that we're trying to keep the tickets very affordable.

Signing up to receive a notice of the raffle will not obligate you to purchase a ticket. But it will assure that you get an opportunity to purchase a ticket -- even if you miss the notice that we'll be posting on TB.net.

So do yourself a favor, and sign up.

Well Karen, if the villa is Rainbow Point or Rainbow Tree, you can sure sign me up as I would LOVE a week at either place!!!

Well, Rebecca, you’d make a great detective! The first villa vacation rental that’s going to be raffled IS Rainbow Tree. But, wonderful woman, you need to follow the simple rules – just like everyone else. Just send an e-mail to TreasureBeachFound@earthlink.net; say you want to be notified of the raffle, and please don’t forget to include your snail mail address.

There’s an exciting thing to add about the raffle. We plan to hold a raffle several times each year, because we want to raise enough money to continue to provide scholarships for Treasure Beach students. Owners of other top-notch villas have kindly volunteered to donate their villas to be used in subsequent raffles to benefit Treasure Beach Foundation. Their generosity and concern for the community is the kind of thing that helps make Treasure Beach one of the most special places on earth.

So, please sign up TODAY.

When will the first raffle happen?

We plan to start the first raffle about mid-July.

Those who have signed up to be notified directly (by sending an e-mail to TreasureBeachFound@earthlink.net, including their snail mail address, not just their e-mail address) will be told about the raffle about a week before the notice goes up on TreasureBeach.net. If you decide not to do this, you can check out TB.net every day, as many of us do, and still have an opportunity to buy a ticket. But in case you miss the notification on TB.net, we’ll still be sure to send you one IF we have your info. Again, putting yourself on the list will not obligate you to buy a ticket; it just means you will be certain to learn about the raffle.

Please tell me who won the scholarships and why more money is needed for them. Don't get me wrong. I think it's a great idea for scholarships. I just don't understand the still raising money part. Thank-you.

Good question! The scholarships have not yet been awarded, as we still haven't gotten the GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) results. Those will be in before the end of June. The test results are certainly not the only factor for deciding who gets a scholarship, but they will play a part. We will announce the winners on TB.net after they have been personally notified, so you'll find out their names, Vickie.

We want the scholarship program to be ongoing, year after year; we want to be able to select new scholarship winners each year -- and hopefully provide some continuing support to the prior winners as they move through high school. So, this program is going to get bigger every year -- so long as there is money to support it.

Questions and Answers: First, some answers. Those who have signed up will get a notice about July 15 -- and then another when the next raffle takes place; those who haven't signed up can check TreasureBeach.net for the notifications. In either case, the price of the tickets will be stated -- and by what date you need to get your money in. Also, the rules (and exactly what you can win) will be clearly explained. Some people have said they have friends who would also like to purchase tickets; what the advance list will receive is something they can forward to others if they wish. And, yes, you will be able to pay for a raffle ticket either by mailing a check or by charging the amount online.

Now, the question: Would people prefer PayPal or Visa and MasterCard -- or all these options -- for online payment?

By credit card if privacy/theft protection is in place, otherwise by check through the mail.

I vote for Paypal!!!

I definitely prefer PayPal. Its quick, easy & secure. If it ends up that we need to send a cheque via the mail, I think we need a couple of weeks lead time.

I think I missed that class. What is paypal?

A check through the mail would be best for me. Or how about a postal money order, travelers checks, etc? Personally, I don't use credit cards over the internet.

I think this is really a good idea!

I vote for PayPal. You don't need to use a credit card, you can do it directly through your checking account. I think you can even start a PayPal account into which you can deposit money and pay from that account. A check through the mail will take such a long time for those of us who are off-island.
S.

Thanks for your suggestions.

We will be accepting PayPal as well as checks. We fully understand that many checks will be coming from overseas (we are based in the U.S.); so, those who are on our mailing list and receive a personal announcement will have four weeks to have their checks arrive; those who see the announcement on TB.net will have about three weeks.

Snail Mail Clarification: I have obviously used a term that is not understood by everyone, and I apologize. "Snail Mail" means your regular mailing address (as if someone were mailing a letter to you).

Finally -- the people who signed up to be notified in advance have been sent the information necessary to enter the raffle!! I thank all of you for your patience and am sorry this has taken so long, but we had lots and lots of details to work out -- and we are an all-volunteer organization (meaning everone who's helping has a regular full-time job).

We seem to have an incorrect email address for Gil Lhotka. Gil, would you please get in touch with me, so I can get you the info?

The Raffle Flyer will be posted on TreasureBeach.net in a week, so people not on the advance notification list will have an opportunity to enter.

This is so exciting! I won my very first trip to Jamaica!

One question- I don't see anything about Paypal on the flyer - was it decided against?

Thanks!

We are accepting Visa, MasterCard, and American Express online -- and you do not need to have a PayPal account. There is a link on the flyer; if you can't click on it, cut it and paste it into your browser; you'll be directed to an easy-to-complete form. This service is secure, and it's run by an organization that devotes itself to assisting charities. Of course, we are also accepting checks.

Whichever method you use, thanks in advance. We need all we can get for this scholarship program. And, we are delighted to reciprocate with a week for up to 8 people at Rainbow Tree.

Win a Week at Rainbow Tree Villa
Treasure Beach, Jamaica

Located on Jamaica’s Gentle South Coast


Very large, fully-staffed, custom-built vacation villa
On 5-1/2 acres on the Caribbean.
Beach. Private, freshwater pool.
Sleeps up to 8 in four large bedrooms

8 days, 7 nights
Saturday to Saturday


$25 (US) per ticket
or 5 tickets for $100

100% of the raffle ticket proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund for Treasure Beach Foundation—a 501 (c) (3) foundation—and are tax-deductible under US IRS regulations.

Rules:
• Payment for raffle tickets (in USD) must be received by August 31, 2006.
• The winner will be selected by random drawing and will be announced on September 6, 2006.
• The winner can use the week anytime within a year of winning on a space-available basis.
• Go to the Rainbow Villas Website for a full description of Rainbow Tree Villa. Please click the “Rates” button to see what’s included (and not) if you win. And, please click the “Treasure Beach Foundation” button on that site to learn more about the wonderful Scholarship Program you’re supporting.
• One occupant must be at least 25 years old and must be legally responsible for signing our standard rental agreement.

How to Purchase Tickets:
• Make your check out to Treasure Beach Foundation. In the “Memo” part, write Summer 2006 Raffle. Mail your check to:

Karen Kennedy
11124 Rich Meadow Drive
Great Falls, VA 22066
U.S.A.
• Be certain to include your email address, postal mail address, and telephone number.
• OR, purchase tickets by clicking here: Tickets and Donations



PLEASE FEEL FREE TO FORWARD THE FLYER BELOW TO ANYONE YOU BELIEVE MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN THIS RAFFLE.

flyer Scholarship2006Raffle.pdf (275.7 k)

How come the scholarship winners aren't on the foundation page of the Rainbow Tree website?

Karen this is such a great idea! You are so generous. Not only do you hold the raffle you offer your beautiful villa as the prize? WOW! You inspire me. Good Luck to everyone! I hope I win!

The scholarship winners' photos should be up on the Treasure Beach Foundation page sometime over this weekend. I'm saying "should" because most everything is being done by volunteers so we can maximize the amount of money being used for its intended purpose.

Thanks, Lynette, for your comment. We, however, are not the only people putting up a villa. There will be more raffles due to the generosity of several other Treasure Beach villa owners.

What other villas will be raffled?

The winners are now posted on the site. Go to: http://www.rainbowtreevillas.com/foundation.html. There is also a Donate Now button at the bottom of that page.

On Saturday morning, one person buying raffle tickets made their donation in memory of someone very special from Treasure Beach who had recently passed away. When I informed his mother she said, "May God bless you all for helping us to keep the memory of our son alive." Just a suggestion: If you have someone whose memory you would like to make your donation on behalf of, there is a space on the online donation form for you to do so.

Super idea to donate money in memory of someone. Plus, the way I figure it, I still get a chance to win the raffle. I think this is what's called a win win proposition.

Having just come back from a week at Rainbow Tree, I've been emailing the news of this raffle to everyone I know. It is amazing how easy it is to make a difference in a kid's life in Jamaica -- the contributions we make down there seem so much more effective and immediate than other donations and charities I've been involved with.

By the same token, spending time in Billy's Bay has made a huge difference in my own life since 2001.

I encourage everyone to spread the word.

Same here. Just got back from two weeks in Treasure Beach. What a great bunch of people! And the children were all so polite. I figured that parents had to pay for uniforms and lunch, but I never realized that the government didn't pay for school busses, or that tuition was charged at public schools.

Realized I didn't answer the question on what other villas will be raffled? The answer is: Please wait for the next raffle to find out. I promise it'll be a good one.

There will, however, probably be no advance sign-up/notification list as there was for this one. We will send advance notices to everyone who was on the original sign-up list -- and add everyone who's buying a raffle ticket for this one (unless they've specifically asked not to be notified).

Also, in response to requests from some people who have already solidified their 2007 vacation plans, if you win the week at Rainbow Tree and cannot use it within 12 months, we are willing to extend that period to 18 months to be able to fit in with your schedule.

Raffle Update: Donations continue to come in via checks mailed, as well as the "Donate Button" at the bottom of the page: http://www.rainbowtreevillas.com/foundation.html. If you haven't bought your ticket yet, please do so. And for all who already have, bless you. Please remember THIS IS FOR THE KIDS!! Every dollar will make a positive impact on the life of a young person -- and on the Treasure Beach community.

I suspected I should check this website more often. I went to Treasure Beach for the first time early this year. Because my friends arranged the trip, I never did extensive investigation before I went. But it was even better than I had expected! What made it so great were the people. I would love to return and was checking out the different places to stay when I came across this raffle and Treasure Beach Foundation. Excellent idea for an excellent cause. As a mother and a teacher, I believe that children are our future. Have just sent my online donation. Hope I win. Even if I don't, Treasure Beach children will reap the rewards. Keep up the good work!

A very interesting string. There is often disagreement on this site (as there should be to make it interesting). One thing, however, about which none of us disagrees is that the children are our future. Very well said, Charlene. You are the type of visitor that helps make Treasure Beach what it is. We all take something away. And we all try to give back in return.

There are less than two weeks left to buy one or more villa raffle tickets to benefit the Scholarship Fund. Please don't put it off any longer. Mail your check or go online today. Remember, it's for the young people of Treasure Beach. On behalf of them, thank you for your support.

One week is remaining to buy your ticket. Either go to the "donate now" button shown above to use a credit card, or mail your check made out to Treasure Beach Foundation to me ($25 U.S. for one ticket; $100 for five). Your check must be in my hands no later than 8/31/06.

Again, thank you very, very much for supporting the youth of Treasure Beach.

If I get my tickets Online, how long do I have to do that?

We receive notifications of online donations very quickly -- probably within minutes of when they are made. This means you can complete your online transaction up though close to midnight on Thursday night, August 31.

My suggestion to those who have not yet purchased tickets (and still wish to do this)would be to either mail your check today or tomorrow -- and to not necessarily trust the postal service to deliver checks mailed after tomorrow. Starting Sunday, I'd definitely use the online method. Also, if you are outside the U.S., I would not assume your check will reach us in less than a week; go online to be certain you get a ticket.

IMPORTANT: REGARDING ANONYMOUS DONATIONS

We just received an online donation from "Anonymous." That's quite fine, as all the proceeds will go to the Scholarship Fund. However, "Anonymous" also requested raffle tickets. Without a person's name and address, we can't send a raffle ticket to whomever that was. (I would feel better if "Anonymous" posted a response to this; he or she certainly doesn't have to include a name or e-mail address.)

If you want tickets, we must have your name and address.

LESS THAN 48 HOURS LEFT ...

...to purchase a raffle ticket. Take a chance on the possibility of winning a week for up to 8 people at Rainbow Tree Villa, and ...

GIVE A CHILD A CHANCE

Scroll up in this string to August 12 to find the link for online donations.

If I should happen to be the lucky so-and-so to win this raffle ... would I have to stay at Rainbow Tree, or could I stay at Rainbow Point instead?

What happens if I have not received my tickets by when the date for the drawing is?

To Curious: Rainbow Tree is the villa that's being awarded in the raffle, so that's where you'd "have" to stay. (It's really quite wonderful, though I realize some people have developed a special attachment for Rainbow Point.)

To Charlene: There was an initial delay, but we have been sending out tickets as quickly as we can. You'll notice what you're receiving are numbered ticket stubs. We have the other half of each ticket. And, we are going to select from the halves we have next Wednesday night. So, if you haven't received yours by then, do not worry.

I finally just bought one ticket. I wish it could have been more.

Thank you, Karen. I have no special attachment to either villa, having never stayed in either place. It's just that, if I win, I'll be coming down alone or at most as a party of 2 and it would seem so amazingly decadent to take such a large villa just for myself. But fear not: should I win, I'd *somehow* manage!

Thanks, again, for your answer.

Good luck to everyone who's bought tickets, and congratulations to the TB Foundation on all the money that's been raised!

well...I for one can't wait until this drawing is over!!! that way I can at least sleep without my lucky rabbits foot and all my other lucky charms...good luck to all!!!...what a great raffel!!!

I would have no trouble finding 5 people to stay with me. (the limit is 6 people, right?)

I'm with you, nurse ratchet. I'd have no trouble finding companions ... I'm just usually a solo traveler and prefer my vacations alone. But perhaps I'm being too narrow in my fantasies of winning: I could use the week for a mini-family reunion--mom, siblings, niece and nephew ... yeah, ok, this fantasy could work!

The limit at Rainbow Tree is eight people. (There are four large bedrooms.) It's Rainbow Point that has a limit of six (in three bedrooms).

either way I'd have no problem filling the place.

Will anything be posted here as soon as the drawing is done?
I'm just wondering if I need to sit by my pc that evening?

I just viewed the tour of Rainbow Tree. I LOVE the beds. They were made local, right ? By whom?

Patty, we plan to do the drawing about 7 p.m. (Eastern time) on Wednesday. We will attempt to inform the winner directly, first by telephone -- and then by e-mail. We will also submit a posting to the Forum; however, we have no control over when this announcement will show up. As people who go to this Forum understand, either Rebecca or Eric must approve any messages; and, as they have other full-time commitments, they cannot post things within minutes of when they may be submitted.

Nurse Ratchet, yes, the beds were made in Jamaica. They are cedar and were constructed and carved by a gentleman in Flagaman whose name I cannot recall at the moment; the mattresses were made in Top Hill. (All the inside furniture at Rainbow Tree was handmade by various people in Jamaica.)

We'll try to get the message approved as soon as possible...unless we're the winners, in which case we'll be too busy calling friends to see who's coming with!

WE HAVE A WINNER

We are delighted to announce the winning raffle ticket was held by Lisa Dezzutti of Clifton, Virginia. As she is out of town, we have been unable to reach her (yet) to tell her of her good fortune. But, we are certain she and her husband will be quite excited and will begin planning their trip to Rainbow Tree ASAP.

On behalf of Treasure Beach Foundation, we sincerely thank all those who donated so generously. Each of you has helped to make a big difference in Treasure Beach.

Congratulations, Lisa. Now I guess the hard part is figuring out who to take.

By the way, did I mention how radiant you're looking today, and what a kind and most importantly generous person you are???

Enjoy!

Congratulations Lisa! and don't listen to a word Eric says . . . Him full of de lyrics!

Oh, and did I mention I'm usually available for sunset cocktails poolside at Rainbow Tree . . .

Congrats Lisa!

Karen, if possible can you post the grand total of how much was raised for the scholarship fund.

The total raised came very close to covering the costs for our five 2006 scholarship winners!

What's great about this is that we will now be able to go into our next fundraising effort (whenever that might be) knowing we are raising money in advance of when we will need it, instead of after we have made the commitment to the winners -- as we did this year.

For 2007, we will be awarding scholarships to a new group of students. Plus, we want to be able to continue to assist the 2006 winners as they progress through school. As you can imagine, this undertaking will get more expensive for us year after year because we will be assisting more students each year. And, quite honestly, we were not sure we could count on raising sufficient funds to achieve our goals. We are now exceedingly excited to realize that we can count on so many people to help us raise funds.

Again, sincere thanks to all who donated. It is heartwarming to know how many people care about education -- and about making Treasure Beach a better place for everyone.

How exciting that the raffle raised so much! Congratulations to Liza (though I wish the raffle angels had smiled on *my* tickets instead!). I can't wait until the next raffle!
S.

Congratulations Lisa!

More good news!! I just got word from Lynette Henson (also known as Sweetlips) that she is going to donate one laptop computer to each of the 2006 scholarship recipients. These computers are part of the lot of 35 or so that Lynette was recently able to obtain from her wonderful employer, E&J Gallo Winery. (They have already left California and will arrive in Treasure Beach in plenty of time for me to hand one to each of the kids when I'm down there early next month.)

I want all of you to know I have never even met Lynette, but she must be some sort of an angel. (She has previously been able to get E&J Gallo Winery to donate a large shipment of used laptops to Treasure Beach, so this is not her first act of such kindness.) Treasure Beach is fortunate to have an advocate who is so generous, gracious, and caring. Thank you, Lynette!!

Congratultions to Lisa, Treasure Beach Foundation, and all the children of Treasure Beach! You're all winners! I guess you call this a win-win-win situation

That is great news!! Thanks so much Lynnette for all your efforts.

Thanks for all the kind words, this fills my heart full. It is always my pleasure

WOW!! I just found out I won! (I'm on vacation in North Carolina and had turned off my cell phone.) I've never won anything, much less something this spectacular. Plus, I know my money went for a really great cause. This will probably turn into a family vacation with my husband and my parents, and I don't even know who else yet, but I'll figure it out. You have no idea how many times I went to the website, but I never thought I'd win. Treasure Beach looks like a fantastic place; Karen's been telling me about it for years. I cannot wait to go!

Wow! Laptops with the scholarships, this is the kind of reward these kids deserve! Thanks for making it happen.

I hope all the other children see this and decide to do their best. I would love the challenge of finding more scholarships!

Congrats Lisa. You've never been to TB before?
What a great way to be introduced.

I hope to participate in more raffles like this in the future (even if I can only manage one ticket).

Thanks to the Treasure Beach Foundation & owners of Rainbow Tree Villa for doing this.

Congrats Lisa for being the winner of this year's
raffle.Your contribution will certainly make a difference in the lives of our children.As the Principal I would like on behalf of the Teachers and students of the Sandy Bank Primary School thank everyone for your kindnesses shown to us. We welcome you Lisa to Treasure Beach and feel free to visit our school when you come to Jamaica.

The laptops have finally arrived!!

We are loading software on them as I write this, so each of the 2006 scholarship winners will be able to pick up their computers this week.

Again, they were donated and shipped to Jamaica by Lynette Henson and her employer, E&J Gallo Winery. And, they were picked up in Spanish Town courtesy of BREDS.

If you could have seen the excitement on the faces of each of the scholarship winners when we announced this to them, you'd realize how important this contribtion is.

Sincere thanks to all concerned.

Great news Karen! Thanks so much to Lynette and all the sponsors who spearheaded this program!!