The Friends of the Rochester Hills Public Library (RHPL) is marking its 60th anniversary in 2021 with a new fundraiser, as a way to brighten what we all hope will be the post-pandemic Rochester area scene.

The Friends, the volunteer support arm of the library which serves Rochester Hills, Rochester and Oakland Twp., has launched its first-ever high-stakes 60-40 raffle.
Granted, the raffle proceeds will hopefully make up for the loss of, or limitations on, key Friends fund-raising events and operations during the past year. Friends President Ron Meegan said “We thought it made some sense to use our 60th anniversary to try something unique until we can resume normal operations.” The 2020 casualties included the cancelled Holiday Home Tour and the Wine, Wit & Wisdom dinner/lecture events, the popular used book and media sales which were greatly curtailed and the very limited operations of the Friends Library Store.
For the current library fiscal year, the Friends gave the Library $170,000 – comparable with previous yearly donations. But Meegan added “without the current ability to plan exactly when and what we’ll be able to do in 2021, we needed to do something now. It also gives all Library users – and indeed all Rochester Hills/Rochester/Oakland Township residents and their friends and family wherever they live – a chance to score an unexpected windfall to start 2021!”
Library Director Juliane Morian said “I am so thankful for the Friends group’s continued support and ingenuity during this difficult time. This raffle will try to help make sure that the Friends’ important financial helping-hand will continue despite whatever 2021 brings.”
How does it all work? One lucky winner will get 40 percent of the pot created by all ticket buyers at $100 a ticket. So, for example, if 1,000 tickets are sold, the lucky winner gets $40,000 (minus mandatory tax withholding) with $60,000 (minus printing expenses) going to the Friends to support the Library. The drawing will be in the Library’s Multi-purpose room at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 20.
To prime the pump, all Friends members – about 700 – have been mailed one numbered raffle ticket costing $100. To enter, they just mail a check (made payable to the Friends of the RHPL) along with the ticket stub with their name and contact info, using an enclosed return envelope.
Not a Friends member? Or want to enter more than once? Or have some friends and/or family elsewhere who might want a shot at the jackpot? Or maybe you want to offer someone a unique gift? Not a problem, even with actual physical access to the Library limited by current Covid-19 restrictions. To purchase tickets online, use this Paypal Link. You’ll be mailed an entry confirmation. No computer access? Call 248-650-7176 and leave a message. A Friends rep will facilitate your purchase.