Maybe it’s because of the heat, but things have been cooking among the nonprofits. They’ve been brewing up some remarkably imaginative items to get fundraising to new levels. A couple of them have just been revealed and you’ll want to budget some funds for raffle and live auction items.
The first one is a trip, but it’s not the same-old getaway. After all, how many times can one go to Paris without thinking of it as a suburb?
No, this one is timely and chances are that none of your buds have been there.
It’s a trip for two to Cuba complete with airfare, hotel and transportation. Yup! You read it. Just imagine exploring an island that has been verboten for a half century. Ah, but before that relationship ended, Cuba was known for its natural beauty as well as its cigars, the food, the music, the architecture, the fishing, the culture and the rum.
It was in Cuba that the late Ernest Hemingway spent the ’30s and ’40s writing “For Whom The Bells Toll” and “A Moveable Feast.” He also enjoyed chilling at El Floridita, where he drank El Papa Doblesuch, his namesake Daiquiri. According to Ernest, “I drink to make other people more interesting.”
Think how it would be to be one of the first to rediscover the society that is still driving cars built in the ‘60s.
It sounds as if the Cubans and Americans, like Conscious Cuba President Francis Harrison, are ramping up for visitors to reacquaint themselves with Cuba.
Relatively new, CC’s mission is to “facilitate the opportunity to discuss commonalities and differences through meaningful interactions.” Francis and her team are putting together all types of tours to the island just 90 miles south of Florida.
And that’s exactly how the trip came about. It seems Francis and Yvonne “Raffle Queen” Crum came up with the package to celebrate the 10th anniversary of fashion showing for Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas. This year Yvonne has arranged for the fashion show presented by Belk and the raffle to take place the same night (Friday, March 25) at the Dallas Country Club.
If you’re feeling lucky, check with Yvonne about how many tickets you want to buy. There will only be 1,500 tickets sold for $100 per. On the other hand, if you’re not lucky enough to win the raffle, then give Francis a call.
BTW, if you’re wondering whether CC knows a thing or two or three about hospitality and international travel, scratch that adorable noggin of yours. Francis’ grandest mama is none other than Caroline Rose Hunt, who opened The Mansion on Turtle Creek in 1980 and developed the Rosewood empire.
* Photos provided by Conscious Cuba