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Raffle generates support
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Cost Less Foods is the latest Ceres business to join in support for a special raffle effort to raise funds through the Ceres Unified School District Foundation. On Thursday the Hatch Road store chipped in $500 worth of gift certificates to be offered as one of 10 prizes worth $500 or more in the raffle.

A $5,000 cash prize will be given away in May.

Proceeds from the raffle will be used for activities, including sending students to Outdoor Education camp, field trips, school gardens, science activity materials, arts and music programs, and cultural activities. The raffle is intended to replace smaller individual fundraisers.

Other businesses which have contributed include Ceres TV and Stuart's Fine Furnishings.

"I can't believe the support of the Ceres business communty," said Dave McConnell, president of the Ceres Unified School District Foundation board. "But the owner of Cost Less just goes above what we've ever asked."

The store also has a program of kicking back one percent of sales through a receipt program offered to all schools, said Ceres store director Del Ambris. The store also provides field trips to younger Ceres students.

Raffle tickets are available at each Ceres school site and the district office for $10 each. The raffle will conclude with a May 3 drawing at the Ceres Street Faire

.

The Foundation was established in 2003 as a non-profit organization to provide supplement resources to support educational programs for the 11,500 students attending schools in Ceres. Since 2004, the foundation has raised $92,426 through donations and other venues.