Businesses support Women Aware, donate raffle prizes

Local businesses have provided backing for the annual Women Aware Conference for decades and this year’s event on Sept. 19 is no different.

Rozetta Little of Sterling Insurance volunteered this year to be the fundraising chairperson to help secure conference funding.

“The businesses in our area are always great to help out,” Little said.

The Evelyn Whitworth Memorial Raffle was started last year in honor of the late Mrs. Whitworth, who was a member of Women Aware for many years, Little said.

“Her family wishes to honor her with a donation each year. This year, it is the diamond earrings,” Little said.

“Black River Outdoors and Ozark Fitness are first-year sponsors and we greatly appreciate their donations,” Little said. “Sterling Insurance has been a sponsor each year and also is greatly appreciated. This is a committee and community effort and we are all proud to be a part of Women Aware.”

The prizes include The Big Green Egg Smoker valued at $1,100, donated by Black River Outdoors; 14K white gold diamond stud earrings valued at $1,000, donated by Whitworth’s Gift Chest Jewelers; a Ruger Pistol with case and $100 cash for supplies valued at $500 donated by Ozark Fitness. The fourth prize is a Coach purse valued at $400 donated by Sterling Insurance.

Tickets are $20 each or six for $100 and may be purchased from any Women Aware committee or board member, at the Legacy Marketing or Productive Staff offices in Poplar Bluff, or online at womenawareinc.com/conference.

The first person whose name is drawn will be able to select which prize they take home. Winners do not need to be present, and those buying tickets are encouraged to write which gift they want the most if they are unable to be contacted.

Donations from the businesses enable the group to have internationally known speakers like Elizabeth Smart, who will bring this year’s keynote address. Smart’s abduction in 2002 gripped the world. For nine months, she was held captive and threatened with harm to herself and her family. Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, Smart was safely reunited with her family on March 12, 2003. Since then, she has become a leading advocate for child abduction prevention.