The Partnership for Educational Excellence will postpone its Grand Raffle drawing for a $5,000 cash prize in the interest of public health.

“After careful consideration and advice from a medical professional, we have decided to delay our annual drawing,” says John Fassero, Jr., president and founding member. “Even a scaled-back gathering of four or five people in close proximity can magnify the risk of Covid-19 transmission.”

The drawing was scheduled to occur during the Ben-Gil Elementary School annual spaghetti dinner on Palm Sunday 5 April 2020. The dinner has been canceled.

“We very much want the winner to receive the money, but not at the risk of contagion. We hope that our many, many supporters who have bought tickets - including this year’s winner - will understand,” says Fassero.

The drawing will take place when governmental and medical authorities relax the current strict social distancing advisories. The new date will be announced beforehand.

In the meantime, the education foundation will reserve any of the remaining tickets for those wishing to purchase. Just contact The Partnership at www.thepartnership7.org or at P.O. Box 125, Gillespie, IL 62033. Tickets are $20 apiece; only 500 will be sold.

The Partnership is an all-volunteer, IRS-chartered 501(c)3 not-for-profit education foundation established in 1992. In addition to classroom grants, the foundation has annually awarded academic tuition scholarships to approximately 20% of each Gillespie High School graduating class.