Norwood Businesswomen adjust raffle, say proceeds fund scholarships and holiday baskets

Norwood Day organizers who run the event's fundraising said they changed the raffle format this year so attendees place tickets in bins for specific prize baskets rather than enter a single pooled drawing. Organizers said the change was intended to make prize selection easier for attendees and to reduce repetitive ticket entry.

Jane Grody, identified in the event as the Norwood Day treasurer, said the group assembles multiple baskets for the raffle and uses proceeds to fund scholarships, holiday food baskets and support for local school and music programs. "We put together those baskets," Grody said, describing both gifts for children and food or household items for families and seniors.

Grody said some baskets are priced at a minimum retail value of $100, organizers assembled about 40 prize baskets this year, and ticket pricing was adjusted to $1 each or 6 for $5 to simplify sales. She said last year the group spent approximately $2,200 to $2,500 on about a dozen holiday baskets and that the organization seeks to spend locally on Norwood programs.

Volunteers and funeral-home partners helped assemble prizes and run raffle sales; organizers said ticket sales would continue through the afternoon with drawings to follow. The organizers invited community feedback on event logistics through their Facebook page.

There were no formal municipal actions at the event; fundraising and distribution decisions are handled by the organizing group and its volunteers.