By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — After the mortarboards have been tossed and diplomas handed out, Caribou Project Grad participants will be hopping on a bus headed to Twin Pine Camps at Millinocket Lake, but only after a season’s worth of fund-raising.
With approximately 100 seniors, coordinators are optimistic that a large percentage of the class will celebrate their graduation together in the Maine woods enjoying the amenities of the campgrounds — including hiking, fishing and white water rafting.
To maximize the experience, Project Grad organizers are hoping to fund-raise about $150 per student.
Project Grad Co-Chair Karen Kovach says that this year’s Project Grad fund-raising endeavors begin on Thursday, Feb. 23 with a Zumba fitness class at the Caribou Learning Center at 6:30 p.m. Raffle tickets for the group’s two raffles will also be available at the Zumba kickoff — a Troll Bead Bracelet Raffle and the Mega Raffle.
While Troll Beads are known for their uniqueness, the particular bracelet being raffled off by Project Grad fund-raisers is particularly special. It features the bracelet, two maroon beads and one Viking bead.
As the Mega Raffle moniker would indicate, it’s a pretty big fundraiser as well. Only 1,000 tickets will be sold for 35 prizes, like Red Soxs tickets or an Oreck vacuum.
“Tickets will be on sale during Zumba or through any senior,” Kovach explained. The raffle winners will be drawn in May.
Project Grad will also be hosting some delicious events to help raise funds for their post-graduation trip; on Wednesday, Feb. 29, Project Grad will be holding a Big Cheese fundraiser — meaning for every Hot’n Ready medium pizza purchased (the fund-raising special), 50 cents will go toward Caribou Project Grad.
Another sweet fund-raiser takes place on Friday, March 2 with a bake sale, held from 6 to 8 a.m. in the lobby of the Cary Medical Center.
A favorite fund-raising event that packs the stands every time is a visit from the Harlem Superstars for a basketball game against Caribou’s Dream Team. That highly anticipated game takes place on March 31, and additional information will be available as the calendar advances.
For additional information about Project Grad or to purchase raffle tickets, call 496-4630.
