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Chase the Ace to help Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve

PARRY SOUND, ON – The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve is using a slightly non-traditional method to fundraise.

The conservation group is the charity behind a ‘Catch the Ace’ progressive lottery starting this week.

“Our fundraising committee had a long list of ideas and decided to try this one because it has not been done in the Parry Sound area before,” says Becky Pollock, executive director of GBBR. “The event is known as ‘Chase-the-Ace’ outside Ontario and is a popular way for charities of all sizes to raise funds for their programming.”

The lottery provides weekly winners of at least 20 per cent of the weekly pot.

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Another 30% of weekly sales is allocated to the progressive jackpot, which goes to the lucky winner who finds the Ace of Spades. The remaining 50% of weekly proceeds go to the Biosphere Reserve’s programming.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased by cash or cheque from volunteers and at several local businesses. You must be over 18 to purchase tickets.

Weekly draws start August 1st at 7:45 p.m. at Trestle Brewing, 9 Great North Road, Parry Sound. Each draw will be broadcast live on a GBBR Catch the Ace Facebook page. Event information and lottery rules are available at the event Facebook page, at the office at 11 James Street or online at gbbr.ca/catchtheace.

Jess Fargher is the Chair of Fundraising for the GBBR and she broke down how the lottery works.

“All the cards in a deck are put into sealed envelopes and numbered from 1 to 52,” she explained. “When you buy a ticket, you pick a number from the unopened envelopes and write it on your ticket. If your ticket is drawn, the envelope with your chosen number is opened. If the Ace of Spades is not in the envelope, you win 20% of the weekly proceeds. If it contains the Ace of Spades then you win the 20% weekly pot AND the progressive jackpot!”

As the lottery progresses the choice of numbers declines, which increases the chances of “catching the ace.” Ticket vendors have a chart that is updated to show which numbers remain each week. Ticket-holders do not have to be present at the draw to win.

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