His and hers giveaway to benefit BGCE

Drawing set for Dec. 17; tickets available now

The Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado is holding their second annual holiday giveaway this month, with big prizes in store for two winners.

Victoria Hollis, BGCE director of marketing, said the giveaway will help fund the nonprofit going into the new year.

"This is the second year we've done a giveaway during the holidays. Before this, we did a gun raffle; I think it was probably two or three years in a row, and that was usually in the fall," she said.

The His and Hers Holiday Giveaway will include two prizes: one, a 14 karat white gold necklace with a half-carat diamond pear-shaped pendant donated by Cole's Jewelers, and the second, a $1,200 gift card to Simmons Sporting Goods in Bastrop, Louisiana.

"There's two different tickets, so basically, if you buy a ticket -- we call it a his, but that doesn't mean girls wouldn't want the Simmons Sporting Goods gift card. But it just depends on which ticket you purchase. There'll be a separate drawing for both prizes," Hollis explained.

She also noted that this is the second year running that Cole's has donated one of the prizes for the His and Hers Holiday Giveaway.

Tickets for the giveaway cost $20 each, or $100 for six. Hollis said the BGCE has 300 tickets for each prize available for purchase.

"Three hundred for the gift certificate and 300 for the necklace, so with those parameters set, our maximum (that we can raise through the fundraiser) is $12,000," she said.

Tickets are available now at the BGCE's North West Unit, 1201 N. West Ave.; or from any BGCE Board member. A full list of Board members is available on the BGCE's website.

Hollis said she can also take credit or debit card payments for tickets over the phone; she can be reached at 870-863-8753, ext. 110.

On Friday, Dec. 17, BGCE staff will go live on Facebook at Cole's Jewelers in downtown El Dorado to draw the names of the prize winners.

The same day, after-school program members of the Club will have their annual holiday party. Each year, as the fall after-school program wraps up, the BGCE has a Christmas party for members, and each child gets to take home a present.

This year's party will be made extra special, Hollis said, because the BGCE was chosen to be the recipient of the annual Make A Smile Happen (MASH) Toy Drive organized by Noalmark Broadcasting.

The toy drive is set for Friday, Dec. 10, and Saturday, Dec. 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days at Walmart, 2730 N. West Ave. KIX 103 hosts will be on-site throughout the drive.

"We normally do (our holiday party) in the gym, have chocolate fountains, make sure they have lots of treats, but they will stay in their groups. We won't have them all in one big group together," Hollis said, referring to small groups the BGCE organizes children into to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "They'll get to ice cookies, have special art projects that they're going to do in their individual groups."

Hollis said on Thursday that the BGCE is currently serving more than 150 children throughout the county at its two locations in El Dorado and one in Smackover.

For more information about the His and Hers Holiday Giveaway, call the BGCE at 870-863-8753; visit the North West Unit at 1201 N. West Ave.; or visit eldoradokids.org.

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