Hardin County-based nonprofit Give 270 presented a check Wednesday for $52,765 to Saint James Catholic School (SJS) in Elizabethtown. The donation was raised through a Bourbon Strong + Kentucky Strong bourbon raffle hosted by Give 270 in May.
The raffle, which featured 50 bourbon prizes, was made possible through donations from John and Leigh Ann Lewis, owners of John O’s Liquors in Elizabethtown.
“Each of our six children attended Saint James, so making this raffle happen was very personal for Leigh Ann and I,” John Lewis said. “We were Saint James parents for 22 years and it was always evident that the school builds character and provides students with an exceptional education.”
“We’re also excited to return to Saint James this year as our oldest grandbaby attends preschool this fall,” Leigh Ann added. “It was so important for us to give back to a school that has done so much for our family over the years.”
Sister Mary Grace, principal of SJS, said the donation will go toward keeping tuition costs affordable for students at the school.
“At Saint James, we work hard to keep tuition low so that all students who want to attend can benefit from the quality education we provide,” she said. “Gifts like this one, and others from our many benefactors, help us bridge the gap between the cost of education and our tuition. We’re so grateful to the Lewis family and to Give 270 for their generosity.”
An additional Bourbon Strong + Kentucky Strong raffle is set to take place live on Give 270’s Facebook and YouTube channel on July 27, with proceeds benefiting Opal’s Dream Foundation. Ticket purchasers will have the chance to win the grand prize, which consists of a five-bottle set of Van Winkle Bourbon, including an Old Rip Van Winkle, 10 year, Van Winkle Special Reserve, 12 year Lot “B”, Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve, 15 year, 20 year and 23 year; the second drawing prize, consisting of a four-bottle BTAC selections set, including a 2019 Willian LaRue Weller, Thomas H. Handy, Sazerac 18 year and a 2020 Eagle Rare 17 year; and the third drawing prize, consisting of a six-bottle Buffalo Trace line-up, including an Eagle Rare 10 year, Weller 12 year, Weller Antique 107, Weller Special Reserve, Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye and a Buffalo Trace. A total of 2,500 tickets are available at $100 a piece.
In addition to hosting Bourbon Strong + Kentucky Strong raffles, Give 270 also hosts weekly Whiskey Wednesdays Bourbon Raffles, which are hosted live on Give 270’s Facebook page and YouTube channel each Wednesday and give participants a chance to win rare and valuable bottles of whiskey at an affordable price point while helping the region. Whiskey Wednesdays raffle tickets go on sale each week and are $5 a ticket.
Tickets for both the Bourbon Strong + Kentucky Strong and Whiskey Wednesdays raffles are available for purchase at give270.org.
Give 270 is a local 501(c)(3) crowdfunding organization that raises money to benefit projects and organizations in Hardin, LaRue and Meade counties.
“Through our Bourbon Strong + Kentucky Strong and Whiskey Wednesdays raffles, it is rewarding to witness the enthusiasm from not just bourbon lovers, but also from those who want to help support worthwhile causes in the region,” said Give 270 co-founder Kenny Rambo. “We’re grateful for the support from John and Leigh Ann and for the ability to make an impact on education in the region through our donation, and we are excited to continue making a regional impact through these raffle events.”
Give 270 also hosts signature fundraising events such as the Kentucky Craft Beer Festival and the Eric and Joe Show, scheduled for November 18, 19, and 20 at the Historic State Theater.
