Charity foundation raises RM820,000 from ticket sales to benefit children’s homes

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THE Budimas Charitable Foundation held the 7th Budimas annual charity raffle draw at the Menara MAA auditorium to announce the winning raffle numbers.

A total of 90 lucky numbers were drawn with prizes amounting to RM180,000. The grand prize this year was a Toyoto Rush 1.5G AT while the second prize was a Perodua Alza 1.5EZ AT.

The third to 90th prizes were shopping vouchers worth from RM5,000 to RM200.

Budimas sold the raffle tickets at RM10 each to members of the public from July 1 to Sept 30 and in the span of three months, the foundation raised RM820,000 from the ticket sales.

The raffle tickets were sold at the Budimas office at Menara MAA and selected Malaysian Assurance Alliance Berhad branch offices nationwide.

Noble cause: The 7th Budimas annual charity raffle draw was held at the Menara MAA auditorium to announce the winning raffle numbers.

Each raffle ticket is identified by a seven-digit number beginning with the numbers “00” and “01”.

During the draw, six boxes containing numbered balls were placed at the designated draw area.

Five invited guests then drew single balls from each of these boxes. The combination of the five numbers made the winning raffle ticket number. This procedure was repeated for the top five prizes.

The panel of guests for the raffle draw were Budimas chairman Tunku Datuk Ya’acob, MAA Assurance general insurance division president Sia Chon Ming, MAA Group Berhad directors Datuk Ali Kadir and Major-General Datuk Lai Chung Wah, and Budimas trustees Tunku Yahaya Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah and Steve Teoh.

The remaining 85 numbers were drawn digitally by computer using a specially-designed programme which ensured the fairness of the draw.

This year’s Budimas charity raffle is the seventh raffle draw to be held by the foundation.

The first charity raffle held in 2004 raised RM791,000 while subsequent raffle draws held in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 raised RM888,000, RM723,000, RM620,000, RM765,000, and RM737,000 respectively.

At the event, Ali also presented a donation of RM70,000 on behalf of the Supercar Charity Challenge 2011 to Budimas. The handover was represented by Ya’acob.

The Foundation initiates and supports projects that provide for the welfare of orphaned and underprivileged children in Malaysia.

Budimas currently cares for more than 600 orphaned and underprivileged children in more than 13 orphanages throughout the country.

The 13 homes are Pusat Jagaan Anak Yatim Dan Saudara Baru An-Najjah in Kuala Lumpur, Asrama Damai Rumah Anak-Anak Yatim in Kuang, Women’s Aid Organisation Child Care Centre in Selangor, Rumah Amal Anak Yatim YPIN in Banting, Precious Gift Home in Ipoh, Persekutuan Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Islam (Perempuan) in Penang, Seri Mengasih Centre in Kota Kinabalu, St Theresa & De La Salle Hostel in Kota Marudu, Villa Paulos in Johor Baru, Rumah Anak-Anak Yatim Permata Camar in Kuantan, Rapha Children’s Home in Kuantan, Rumah Kanak-Kanak Methodist Sibu in Sibu, and Pusat Jagaan Kebajikan Budimas Orion in Petaling Jaya.

The foundation also currently provides food for underprivileged children in schools via the “Budimas Children’s Food Programme”.

Budimas now serves breakfast to more than 2,500 primary and secondary school children in 40 schools in KL, Selangor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan.

By the end of 2011, this programme is expected to feed 3,000 children in schools around the country or 680,000 meals per year.