Amberly's Place makes push to meet ticket goals

Maybe it's the economy or maybe there's another reason. But Amberly's Place isn't meeting its ticket sales goal for a fundraising drawing that will earn seven lucky winners travel packages, including one for Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.

The fundraising drawing so far has earned Amberly's Place only about half of last year's take of about $36,000, said Diane Umphress, executive director of the agency.

The money helps support Amberly's Place in its mission of assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child and senior abuse.

The agency will make a push to sell the $10 tickets from 4:30 to 8 p.m. today at Sam's Club in the Yuma Regional Palms Center, and tickets will continue to be available up until the time of the drawing at 6 p.m. on Friday.

From January through the end of May, Amberly's Place provided services to 917 victims, compared to 1,660 for all of last year, Umphress said. But this year the agency has suffered a 10 percent decline in federal grants that help support it, she said.

Given that, a good fundraising effort is important now, she said. Yet ticket sales are lagging behind last year's.

"I don't know if it's the economy," Umphress said. "The packages have been better than they've ever been before."

The grand prize, donated by Tri State Care Flight in Yuma, is an eight-day, seven-night cruise for two to Puerto Vallarta on Mexico's west coast. The package includes a digital camera, a $250 gift card from Dillards, makeovers for two from Hector's Beauty Pyramid and $400 in cash.

Second prize is a Disneyland getaway for a family of four. The prize includes a four-day, three-night hotel stay, a three-day "park hopper" pass for two adults and two children, a car rental from Avis and $300 in cash from Yuma Insurance.

Third prize will keep the winner at home with a three-day, two-night spa getaway provided by Lotus Day Spa. The winner will stay at the Best Western Suites, receive dinner for two at Olive Garden, $500 worth of car care from Accurate Automotive and two movie tickets from Main St. Cinemas.

Fourth prize is four tickets to Knott's Soak City, a water park in Palm Springs. Amberly's Place donated the tickets. The package includes a rental car from Avis and $150 in cash contributed by Oak Tree & More.

Fifth prize is a two-day stay for two at Westin La Paloma in Tucson, donated by the hotel, two passes to Old Tucson Studio, a rental car from Avis and dinner for two.

Sixth prize is a one-night stay at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, which was donated by Joe Ruttle Investigations. The prize also includes dinner for four, which was donated by Horizon Moving, a rental car from Avis, and $150 in car care from Express Auto/RV care.

Seventh prize is a build-your-own vacation package from Liberty Motorsports and the Foothills Bank, with a choice of destinations such as Catalina Island, San Francisco, Las Vegas and California wine country.

Those who can't make it to Sam's Club today can find out where they can buy tickets elsewhere Thursday by calling Amberly's Place, 373-0849.

Tickets also will be available for sale from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at Main St. Cinemas, 111 S. Main St., prior to the drawing.