West Coast Peachy is Charitable Peachy: $2.2M Los Angeles Home for $150...to Benefit Special Olympics Southern California

Luxury Priced to Sell: Own a $2.2M House for $150
Special Olympics Southern California Announces its 2011 Dream House Raffle 

You'll see on the Whom You Know Facebook page we like Maria Shriver, so we like her late Mom's ideas too...

Opportunity to own Los Angeles showcase home and win numerous cash prizes
Proceeds to benefit thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities

Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) has announced it will embark on its second Dream House Raffle, offering a $2.2 million home or cash payout of $1.5 million. Built in 2006, the 4,500-square-foot Mediterranean-style custom home is located in Studio City, near Ventura Blvd. and Tujunga Village. The tree-lined residence boasts five bedrooms, six baths, a gourmet chef’s kitchen with Viking® appliances, marble countertops, a breakfast rotunda, plus a pool and spa, and three wood-burning fireplaces. Additionally, the magnificent entryway says “welcome home” with its grand circular staircase, crown moldings, wood-beamed ceilings and cocoa Alder wood floors found throughout the property.

Last year, the 2010 Special Olympics Dream House raffle netted more than $700,000 for the organization. The raffle had a direct impact on Special Olympics programs, allowing programs such as the Fall Games, which was on hiatus for several years due to lack of funding, to be reinstated. “This type of advanced competitive experience is important to our athletes’ improvement in sports and sense of accomplishment,” said Bill Shumard, Special Olympics Southern California President & CEO.  “The SOSC Dream House Raffle has also enabled us to be able to fund new uniforms and sports equipment, which are basic necessities of running a sports program.”

All net proceeds from the2011 Dream House Raffle will benefit thousands of individuals with intellectual disabilities in Southern California. The success of the campaign will have a direct impact on Special Olympics athletes living in San Diego to greater Los Angeles county (LA, OC , Inland Empire) to as far north as Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo.

“This is an opportunity to raise a significant amount of money, so that we can continue to change lives through the power of sport,” said Shumard.  “The funds will ensure we can expand our sports programs and serve more adults and children with intellectual disabilities—all at no cost to them or their families.” 

The 2010 Dream House Raffle awarded more than $1 million in cash and prizes to hundreds of winners living in the Southern California area. “The Grand Prize winner was simply stunned,” said Shumard. “I don’t think he ever thought he’d win such a substantial – and life changing – prize, but he did!”

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As the current economic trend continues to linger, engaging in innovative ways to fund non-profit programs are becoming a necessity to stay afloat.  

“Nonprofits like Special Olympics Southern California need to be more creative than ever to raise money to continue their missions. A house raffle appeals to people on many levels – it provides an opportunity to live the American dream to own a home in a desirable neighborhood where housing prices are still out of reach for the average person,” said Shumard. “However, whether the winner chooses the house or the cash payout, it’s a win-win for everyone.”  

The Studio City home was made available through an anonymous supporter. “Members of our extended community who were interested in supporting SOSC in its fundraising efforts made their house available for the raffle,” said Shumard. “We feel very fortunate that they were in a position to help our organization in this way.”

Those who purchase tickets before the “early-bird” deadlines are eligible to win prizes leading up to the grand-prize drawing. From February to May, there will be a monthly drawing for additional cash prizes that range from $1,000 to $25,000. Additional prizes will be awarded during the grand prize drawing, including a 2011 Toyota Prius vehicle, luxury vacations and more.

There is also a “refer-a-friend” drawing, giving those who generate entries through referrals a chance to win $15,000 or one year’s rent at Gallery421, a Lyon Communities Development. The entry deadline for the first early-bird drawing is February 18, 2011 and the final raffle entry deadline is May 13, 2011. A complete list of early-bird drawing dates and prize categories can be viewed online at http://www.socalraffle.com/.  The grand-prize drawing will be held on May 28, 2011.

All contest rules and regulations as well as photos of the home are online at http://www.socalraffle.com/To purchase tickets or for more information, call (800) 816-6108 or visit http://www.socalraffle.com/.

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About Special Olympics Southern California
Special Olympics Southern California has been changing lives through the power of sport for more than 40 years and offers opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in year-round sports training and competition. Special Olympics Southern California appreciates the support of its year-round Mission. Partners: KTLA, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Summit Entertainment, Toyota, and The Vons Foundation. For more information about how to compete, coach or contribute, visit www.sosc.org.