April 19, 2024

Balloon Days fundraiser planned

Winner has chance to win up to $5,000

By BAILEY POOLMAN

Todd Daniels of Indianola floats above a field during the third flight for hot air balloon pilots southwest of Creston during the 2016 Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days. Daniels was sponsored by Rieman Music. Southern Prairie YMCA and the Southwest Iowa Hot Air Balloon Days committee are holding a fundraising event with the opportunity to win up to $5,000 during this year's Balloon Days. (CNA file)

The Creston Chamber of Commerce and Southern Prairie YMCA are teaming up to fundraise for the upcoming Creston Hot Air Balloon Days next month.

“The Y brought it to us and asked if we would be interested in partnering with them, and so we said, ‘Sure,’” said Ellen Gerharz, director of the Creston Chamber of Commerce.

“The baggie drop is a fundraiser for the Balloon Days committee and the Southern Prairie YMCA,” said YMCA Office Manager Raquel Linch. “Essentially, people will purchase tickets for a square, and then on the day of the event, a drone will drop a baggie and whoever’s square it lands on will be the winner.”

For those interested in participating, tickets can be purchased for $100. One ticket equals one square, and when all tickets are sold, which will happen through noon Sept. 15, the space will be split into the total number of tickets sold. So, if 150 tickets are sold, the space will be split into 150 squares. A maximum of 300 tickets will be sold.

“Our goal is to sell 300 squares. If we do not sell 300 squares, then we will reconfigure our grid and we’ll have just enough squares sold on the grid so the payout will be prorated based on the number of tickets sold,” Linch said.

Tickets can be purchased at the YMCA and Chamber of Commerce office, or by members of the chamber office or YMCA board.

“Balloon Days is trying not to raise fees for our sponsors, and keep the event at the high level that it already is,” Gerharz said. “So, basically, we’re trying to cover our costs that are increasing and we don’t want to raise costs on everyone else.”

Linch said the YMCA administration doesn’t have a designated specific purpose for the funds raised, but that it “will continue with our mission of the YMCA.”

On Sept. 15, the area near the airport office will be plotted with the proper amount of squares based on tickets sold. Each ticket will be assigned a random numbered square prior to the event, and a map will be posted at the event.

Then a drone will drop a baggie at 6 p.m., and whichever square it lands in, the owner of that numbered ticket will win a maximum payout of $5,000, or a prorated amount. Adjacent squares will win $100 or a prorated amount.

Gerharz pointed out the baggie is set at a specific weight, and it is likely to be affected by the speed and direction of the wind on that day.

Winners need not be present to win. If it rains Sept. 15, the event will be moved to 11 a.m. Sept. 17 at the Y.