Tickets are on sale for Rhinelander Kiwanis Club’s 27th annual Winter Escapes Extravaganza Saturday March 1, at the Northwoods Banquet Center (The Taj) in Rhinelander. 

his year the grand prize will be $2000, up from last year’s $1,500. Second prize is $1,000.

Tickets are $40. Only 500 tickets will be sold for the fundraising event. All 500 tickets are drawn during the evening with prizes donated from local merchants given away throughout the evening. About one out of every three tickets wins a prize. The last ticket drawn wins the grand prize and the second to last ticket wins $1,000. Since its inception, the annual fundraiser has raised more than $300,000, all of which has gone to area youth and community organizations and projects. 

Projects funded by the Kiwanis Club with money raised from Winter Escapes include the purchase and installation of Pioneer Park playground equipment, the hiking trail at the YMCA, the remodeling of the handicap-training kitchen at Headwaters Inc. and construction of the lighted outdoor basketball court at Central School. 

About 75 percent of the funds raised are used for youth services, including the YMCA Strong Kids campaign and Hodag Run, scholarships to Rhinelander High School seniors, the Oneida County Health Departments pre natal programs, Headwater’s Birth to Three program, Family Resource Connection, youth sport organizations and many more groups. 

The balance has gone to support community organizations like WXPR, the Rhinelander District Library, Rhinelander food pantries and others.
Free soft drinks, beer and food will be served throughout the evening. Casino style games of chance in which participants can win money and prizes will also be ongoing.

Club members are in the process of soliciting prize donations from local businesses to help support the fundraising effort. 

Businesses wishing to donate Winter Escape prizes or anyone wanting to buy a ticket may contact Romelle Vandervest at Northwoods Title at 715-362-8780. Tickets can also be purchased from any Kiwanian or from Lois Godawa or JoAnn Beauchamp at BMO Harris Bank, Rhinelander.