TBCS Charity Raffle. Helping one of our own in a time of great need.

Write up by Kayin and Oneslowz28

I think most of us have seen a post or two by PartyLikeARockstar, and most of us have seen him because of his work in the Project Logs part of the forum. Or we've found him in the Chatterbox, or in the forum chat hamming it up. It's a fair bet to call him a fixture of the site-he's normally somewhere to be found in amongst all this craziness...

However, a string of events has left our friend on his back, and we being the people we are here at TBCS, we've heard and we've decided to help him and offer an awesome contest at the same time. Simply put, we're holding a raffle-we'll help a good friend, and you have a chance to win some excellent hardware at the same time! We're offering quite a range of prizes, and tickets are priced attractively enough we hope you're tempted to buy a few-it helps a friend AND increases your chances of getting a sweet prize!

A personal appeal from PartyLikeARockstar himself.

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Originally Posted by PartyLikeARockstar

Hey guys, a lot of you know me around here. I try to hop on now and again, and offer something witty, funny, or useful once in a while. My wife Johanna and I have a unique situation, and we are hoping that some of you on TBCS are willing and able to assist us.

Our situation is not unlike a lot of Americans at the moment: we're currently homeless, sleeping on the floor at a friend's house with a kid here, and another on the way. We didnt get this way from a lack of working, rather a bunch of bad luck encountered on the way to trying to make a better living.

In the place we're staying now, while our funds are low, we found a place that's safe, clean AND affordable. We need to raise a fairly substantial amount of cash, and we will be able to turn our lives around in the little home that we found. It's enough room for our kids not to be cooped in thier cribs because it's too unsafe and dirty for them to play. The "friends" that offered us the place we're sleeping have fleas, and they don't allow us to clean the place, claiming that it upsets them to clean. We spend hours in the car, just to keep our daughter out of the filth as long as possible. Social Services here won't help us, because we are working, and also even the homeless shelters won't take an "intact family". Any assistance would literally change our lives. We can afford the apartment, our only barrier is the startup cost. We have approached our church, and also they are not able to assist. So we are literally asking any and all family and friends for any assistance to reach our goal, with intent to pay every cent back.

Our Goal: $3000 USD consisting of:
2 months security plus first months rent @ $645 per month
Startup deposits for utilities (gas, electric, water, trash etc)
Gas to pick up a bed and basic furniture (hoping to scour the free Craigslist for this)

Our Current Standing: $594

$115 in donations ($50 kindly donated by knowledgegranted!)
$479 of our savings

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The prizes will be given away in groups based on their manufacturer. Since I'm sure you're dying to know what those prizes are, here's the list:

NZXT has donated:
Phantom
Sentry LXE
LED String


Cooler Master has donated:
HAF X

Gigabyte as donated:
P67A-UD5

Thermaltake and TT eSports has donated:
Armor A30
Challenger Pro
Azurues mouse
BlacX 5G

In-Win has donated:
Dragon Rider

SgtM has donated:
Custom Airbrushing on 1 of the cases.

Kayin has donated a:
OC-proven Sapphire 4870x2.

Our raffle "tickets" will be sold in the form of an entry into a drawing, just like we have done in the last few prize giveaways. Ticket prices are as follows:

1 ticket for $5
2 tickets for $10
3 tickets for $15
5 tickets for $20

You can purchase as many tickets as you like and any donation is welcome, but to be entered into the raffle you have to donate at least $5. So there is no confusion I will list 3 examples of ticket sales.

$30 = 7 Tickets.
$65 = 16 Tickets
$100 = 25 Tickets

TBCS Administrator OvRiDe will be the middleman for this and all donations should be made through him. We are going to let this run until Midnight PST on 12 Feb, 2011.

To purchase tickets please send your donation via paypal to:

ovride[at]thebestcasescenario.com

Please send all donations as a Gift, that way Paypal will not deduct a fee from the donation.

We would like to thank all of the industry partners and individuals who donated items, time or web space to make this raffle possible. The help you have provided will definitely change the life of this family.

Prizes Donated By:
Thermaltake
Gigabyte
Cooler Master
NZXT
In-Win
SgtM
Kayin

A special thanks to:
Modders-inc

*Please note that while we would love to ship prizes internationally, we simply can not afford to do so. If you live in another country besides the USA or Canada and would still like to enter the contest, you would have to cover shipping in the event of winning a prize.

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The prizes will be given away in groups based on their manufacturer.

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Does that mean that a "winner" will receive all items from whichever said manufacturer or is each individual item a prize that can be won?

I assume that each raffle ticket counts as an entry? So if you were to purchase 5 for example, that roughly translates to 5 chances to win?

Finally, is it possible to setup a paypal "donation" link here? I've seen those before, such as on popular websites, and am just wondering if it would be possible?

This is fantastic! Great prizes for a great cause. I shall definitely be participating! Best of luck and warm wishes to PartyLikeARockstar and his family!

Hi everyone!

PLAR and I have been in constant contact for the last 2 years, having met through this site. We are good friends, and even speak on the phone at least a couple times every week.

Being a young family has challenges all its own, but to be facing them with so little resources, and to face impossible odds time and again is frustrating beyond belief. Because they are working, they dont qualify for assistance, including child care subsidy. Shelters and such wont help them either, because they are an "intact family".

I've been throwing website referrals to him for over a year, and do my best to give them whatever resources I can. I encourage everyone to throw any donation you can to them, above and beyond what you enter in the raffle.

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Originally Posted by Lothair

Finally, is it possible to setup a paypal "donation" link here? I've seen those before, such as on popular websites, and am just wondering if it would be possible?

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Why not just buy extra tickets to the value of your desired donation - the money all goes to PLAR and you get an extra chance to win a prize :)

Agreed to that, Slave. I hope and pray that this grants some measure of relief. Many people out there need it, and it is good to see the community step up to try and help one of their own.
*applauds*

Now, let's see if we can exceed the need!

-=TD

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Originally Posted by Tech-Daddy

Now, let's see if we can exceed the need!-=TD

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Awesome!

I'm setting a challenge to everyone here for personal donations..

$200 from me.

*Edit to clarify.. I'm donating straight to the family, not buying that many tickets. Feel free to do so though!!*

You can count me in as well. I may not have been as active as I used to be but things are about to change. I think all of the TBCS family can blow this out the water for PLAR.

I am in, How long are we leaving this open for?

EDIT: I figured it out... duh... lol

Haven't been here enough to really get to know "PLAR" but of course I'll give back to the community that has helped me. And maybe I'll win something in the process :D

i have never seen any group of people come together to help someone out like this. im honored to be able to be part of this web site.

Is there any way to get a counter going on the front page for this? I think it's pretty important to help out and having a way for people to see how we're doing as a community would be great! Best of luck to PLAR and family!

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Originally Posted by Luke122

Hi everyone!

PLAR and I have been in constant contact for the last 2 years, having met through this site. We are good friends, and even speak on the phone at least a couple times every week.

Being a young family has challenges all its own, but to be facing them with so little resources, and to face impossible odds time and again is frustrating beyond belief. Because they are working, they dont qualify for assistance, including child care subsidy. Shelters and such wont help them either, because they are an "intact family".

I've been throwing website referrals to him for over a year, and do my best to give them whatever resources I can. I encourage everyone to throw any donation you can to them, above and beyond what you enter in the raffle.

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What city is he in and what is his employment expertise?
-=TD

don't have alot to give, but i sent $40.

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Originally Posted by Tech-Daddy

What city is he in and what is his employment expertise?
-=TD

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Since he has his old location in his profile, I'll go ahead and answer this (some people get upset about personal details on the internets, why I checked). He's in Baltimore, MD, and from my talking with him, I believe his primary experience is in web development and IT support.

I'll definitely put something towards this once my paycheck goes through tomorrow night...have to consult the budget first to see how much.

...crap... Paypal is not working for me...

Any other way to donate?

Paypal was just the most convenient way to track who has donated and how much. I can imagine we can come up with something else, just not sure what yet. Maybe a deposit into his bankaccount, or western union? Not sure what would work out the best.

You could always just mail a check. That'd definitely be cheaper than Western Union.

I saw this pop up on facebook earlier this week and knew I had to do something. I have a friend and their family in a similar situation so I know how hard it can be. I have been selling some stuff off on eBay lately so I am all cashed up and ready to donate.

I hope everything works out.

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Originally Posted by x88x

Since he has his old location in his profile, I'll go ahead and answer this (some people get upset about personal details on the internets, why I checked). He's in Baltimore, MD, and from my talking with him, I believe his primary experience is in web development and IT support.

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Yes, that is correct!

Thanks to everyone who is stepping up and helping out!

If anyone here is in the Baltimore area, and can donate furniture or household items, please either let myself or PLAR (Shane) know.

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Originally Posted by Luke122

If anyone here is in the Baltimore area, and can donate furniture or household items, please either let myself or PLAR (Shane) know.

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BTW, if anyone does want to reach him, I've noticed that he responds a lot faster on his MSN messenger account than PMs here. I'm pretty sure me and Altec are the only other members in the area, but you never know. ;)

Just moved out of a house and had to get rid of most of my stuff, it's a crying shame that I couldn't donate some of that stuff - but transatlantic shipping is horrific.

Just a heads up guys - there is NO tbcs membership requirement for this event - so if you have friends and/or family who might want to help out, and get in on the chance to get some of those cool prizes, feel free to let them know it's totally open - as long as OvRiDe gets solid contact details for them in case they win, they're good to go.

Let's really push this and give a good friend the best push we can :banana:

I was just informed that Patriot Memory has gotten word of this and is going to donate something to the raffle too.

That is great news :D.

I am really impressed by the industry support of this. Props to all the companies (and people) who have donated stuff for this.

The companies we deal with are some of the kindest people in the industry. I have met most of them in person and am proud to call a few of them good friends. When I sent out word that we were doing this and what it was for, they jumped on it.

Wow, it's really touching that everyone will come together for people like this, especially all the people that work at these giant corporations. I've never seen anything like that before.
I don't have much that I can give, but I'll see what I can do

At this rate, you might have to change the prizes, so that the grand prize is a full computer!

EDIT: English, it sucks to use it when effectively drunk. And no, I haven't been drinking or anything like that.... insomnia just sucks.

Donated! Good luck PLAR, hope you get back on your feet real soon!

OMG thanks everyone! This response is overwhelming! Truly thank you for the help you have provided so far. I wish everyone the best of luck in the drawing!

Ugh. As much as I'd like to help out, AND the nice stuff that's there, I'm broke myself.

Dewayne Carel AKA American-Freak, owner of Modders-Inc was kind enough to post this raffle on the front page of the site. Check it out. http://modders-inc.com Thanks Dewayne!

So, is the PayPal thing figured out? Is that the correct paypal account info that was posted in the first post?

-=TD

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Originally Posted by Tech-Daddy

So, is the PayPal thing figured out? Is that the correct paypal account info that was posted in the first post?

-=TD

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Yep, that is the correct account.

Hi, I come from modders-inc and though I don't know you PartyLikeARockstar I have donated to you in hopes that it will help you get your apartment and what you need because I pray that if the need arises people will be willing to help me out in my times of need. :)

Good luck to you.

Vashant

Welcome and thanks for the donation Vashant

You guys literally embody the kind spirit of the human heart.

There is going to be public pressure to post pictures of your new house though :glasses:

I will be proud. Does someone have a TBCS vector? My wife said she'll make a flag and fly it outside :)

Great to see the community coming together like this :)