CRESTVIEW — Can a Mustang benefit the Lions? It can when it’s a cherry red, 1967 Ford Mustang coupe and all proceeds from raffle tickets to win it go directly to Richbourg E.S.E. School.
This is the final year of what has become an annual classic car raffle benefiting Richbourg and Silver Sands Schools, as well as other Okaloosa and Walton County special-needs services.
The raffle is part of Pandora’s Children’s Invitational, a fundraiser including a golf tournament and charity auction hosted for 20 years by Pandora’s Steakhouse owner Sam Montalto.
“This is our last year,” Richbourg adaptive physical education teacher Karen Wooten said. “Mr. Montalto is retiring.”
During its two decades, Pandora’s Invitational has raised nearly $2 million, divided between the recipients. Last year it raised $158,100, Montalto stated in a letter to supporters.
If the six-cylinder, automatic transmission Mustang isn’t quite to supporters’ tastes, Wooten said a custom-built 280 drop seat Fat Bagger motorcycle is also being raffled off.
“There are better odds on the motorcycle,” she added.
The charity auction offers opportunities to bid on a restored 1950 Plymouth Business Coupe, a restored 1979 Chevrolet Corvette, antique jewelry and vacation packages, Wooten said.
While money received from the golf tournament and auction is divided between the schools, the Arc of the Emerald Coast and the Children’s Home of Florida Okaloosa-Walton office, proceeds from motorcycle and Mustang raffle tickets sold in Crestview stay at Richbourg School, she said.
“Any help we can get is very appreciated, because we’re growing by leaps and bounds,” Wooten said. “We’ve got up to 75 students now.”
Richbourg projects that could be funded by the vehicle raffles and Pandora’s events include a greenhouse for on-the-job-training preparation, and a second van to transport students to their jobs.
“Our off-campus jobs have just grown tremendously so that we can’t keep up with them,” Wooten said.
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WANT TO HELP?
WHAT: Pandora’s Annual Children’s Invitational vehicle raffle, golf tournament and charity auction, benefiting Richbourg E.S.E. School and other area special needs services. Drawing is April 24.
RAFFLES: 1967 Mustang: $1 donation per ticket, or 6 tickets for $5. Custom 280 drop seat Fat Bagger motorcycle tickets: $10 each.
WHEN: Tickets on sale 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at Richbourg School; 3-5:30 p.m. at the Northwood School sign at the corner of State Road 85 and Texas Parkway.
DETAILS: Richbourg School, 689-5089, or Karen Wooten, 305-2866.
WHAT: Pandora’s Annual Children’s Invitational vehicle raffle, golf tournament and charity auction, benefiting Richbourg E.S.E. School and other area special needs services. Drawing is April 24.
RAFFLES: 1967 Mustang: $1 donation per ticket, or 6 tickets for $5. Custom 280 drop seat Fat Bagger motorcycle tickets: $10 each.
WHEN: Tickets on sale 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays at Richbourg School; 3-5:30 p.m. at the Northwood School sign at the corner of State Road 85 and Texas Parkway.
DETAILS: Richbourg School, 689-5089, or Karen Wooten, 305-2866.
WANT TO HELP?
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: A MUSTANG FOR THE LIONS: Classic '60s car raffle benefits Richbourg School