Laguna Beach Home Raffle Blog

2011-07-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

Announcing the 7th Annual Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle

Today, July 5th, signifies the start of a dream, the launch of the 7th Annual Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle. That means we have had 6 years of awarding our GRAND PRIZE, giving away cars, sending people on dream vacations, luxury stays in Orange County, cash, magic, fun and so much more!

Please refer to our website for all the details regarding the 2011 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle.

Congratulations to Andrew Martin

2011-01-20T11:16:00.000-08:00

Andrew Martin of Yorba Linda California is the 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle grand prize winner.

Last Day to Buy Your Ticket

2010-10-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day for you to purchase your ticket to the Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle. Have you decided what you would do when you win yet? The home or the cash?

If you have already purchased a ticket earlier in the raffle, you can still purchase an additional ticket today to count for the multi ticket drawing for the Toyota Prius and Dream Vacations.

Today is also the last day to encourage your friends to buy a ticket. Make sure they give us your name so you both are eligible for $10k and a ton of other cool prizes, including an IPad and Wyland Art.

It's really easy to spread the word. Share our links on Facebook. Retweet us on Twitter. Email your friends our website.

This is your best chance to make $1 million before the end of 2010. You can also feel good about your purchase, knowing that it goes to support the 110,000 school children that come through the doors of the Ocean Institute every year.

Give us a call in the office. We'll be here till midnight! 949-542-3600.

Are you ready for this?

2010-09-23T15:58:00.001-07:00

Hey Bloggers!

It's been awhile... I'm sorry about that. But are you ready? I mean, ARE YOU READY?

That's right, you heard correctly. The final deadline to purchase your chance at $1 million in cash is coming up quickly. October 20th? Can you believe it.

Well in honor our quickly approaching deadline, we've got some things to tell you about. So once more I will ask you? Are you ready? Because I am, and I'm about to REVEAL the details to you...

You have until WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 6 to ask your kid, what would you do with $1 million dollars? That's it! Just ask your kid that, and before your ask your kid, whip out your flip, iphone, camera, or whatever your film media is these days, and video tape your kid's response. Then send it over my way to rgomez@ocean-institute.org. You should want to do this for many reasons, but let me make a list of the top 3.....
#3 It will be, undoubtedly hilarious
#2 We are going to make a compilation video of our favorite answers, and the winners will get a free spot in an OI 2011 Summer Camp ($250-$300 value)
#1 The winner's parents will also receive a ticket in the Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle!

Yeah that's right, all for taking a 10 second video, you could win, a sidesplitting burst of laughter, a week of parental bliss while your child is learning, and having fun during the summer, AND be the winner of $1million.... so cool right?

Do it. Do it right now. What are you waiting for?

So what if you're reading this blog and thinking, "but Rachel, I don't have a kid, not even one that I can borrow for 10 seconds to make a funny video of." Well to you, I say, grab a friend over 21, and head down to OI on Friday October 8 at 6pm. We're going to par-tay! Network! and Mingle!

There's going to be live music, cocktails, and yummy food. We're doing this event so none of you can ever say again, "oh, I've heard of that Ocean Institute place, it's where the pirate ships are, right?" No! Those are OUR ships! And We're the best place in South Orange County! Hands down! I have free complimentary admission on the table for the person that can answer this question.... we've got a friend coming to this party that will be dressed like a cow... give me your best guess!

So did you get all those dates down? I hope! Let me do a quick recap for you....
WEDNESDAY October 6.... last day to submit your "what would you do with a million bucks?" video
Friday October 8... REVEAL event at the OI
Wednesday October 20.... final deadline to purchase your Laguna Beach Home Raffle Tickets

So ready? Go make your videos. RSVP to me. And buy your raffle ticket!

Raffling the Good Life,
Raffle Rachel
rgomez@ocean-institute.org

Free Pizza for LBHR Purchasers

2010-08-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love pizza? Especially when it's free! Bring in your Laguna Beach Home Raffle ticket receipt to Round Table in Dana Point's Ocean Ranch shopping center and receive a free large pizza with your purchase of a large pizza.

Thank you so much to all of our friends and supporters who purchased a ticket prior to the August early bird deadline. All of you will be entered into a to win a grand prize of $15k! And for those of you who purchased 2 or more tickets, one of you will be the owner of a 2010 Toyota Prius. You still have time to tell your friends or purchase additional tickets for the second, September early bird deadline (Sept. 15)!

Okay, I have a bonus question for you... there is a pair of passes to go out on the RV Sea Explorer for the person that can correctly guess what our friend Rafael is looking at, out of the screen shot during the video. Clue: This video was made during the week of July 6.

Raffling the Good Life,
Rachel Gomez

Let the count down begin....

2010-08-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

This Week's Offer...

The Anaheim Hilton is offering you a free appetizer at their Mix Lounge and Restaurant, free valet parking when you dine with them, and if you would like to book at stay with them 25% off their best available rate.

Alright guys, we're down to the last 3 days to purchase your tickets to be entered into our first early bird drawing. 3 busy, crazy, hectic days, of speaking with all of our fabulous ticket purchasers. All of you who waited right to the deadline to get your ticket. Anxious with hopeful anticipation that you are the owner of a Toyota Prius, that will be pulling into your new Laguna Beach residence.

For those of you who have purchased at least 1 ticket by this point, you are in an additional drawing for the following prizes: $15k, 5 $1k South Coast Plaza gift certificates, 8 $500 SCP gift certificates, 25 stays at the Anaheim Hilton with Disneyland passes, 25 stays at the Anaheim Hilton with dinning, and 36 $100 Quiksilver/Roxy gift certificates.

If you have only purchased 1 ticket you have through Wednesday to purchase your second ticket` to be eligible for the Early Bird Multi ticket drawing which includes: 1 Toyota Prius, 1 $5k dream vacation, and 2 $5k SCP gift certificates.

Don't worry, if you win a prize in any of the early bird drawings your tickets will go back in for the next drawings. Being a winner will never disclude you from winning again.

So for instance, you win one of the 25 stays at the Anaheim Hilton with Disneyland admission. Not only will you be treated to the new Disney World of Color that would dominate any comparison to a Vegas show, you will get a restful slumber at the lush and contemporary Anaheim Hilton AND your ticket will go back in for the second early bird, and the final grand prize drawing.

Raffling the Good Life,
Rachel Gomez

Mario's By the Sea

2010-08-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

I hope that you all are enjoying the raffle offer videos as much as I enjoy making them. I also want to thank all of you who helped with voting earlier this year for the 2010 Telly Awards. Your votes paid off; we're hanging witht he best- CBS, National Geographic, etc. We are in the non-broadcast (those films not yet shown) category and our part of the official event and awards ceremony for the International Blue Ocean Film Festival.

Most prestiously Telly Awards-(2 categories, bronzie, silver) we won 4 silver in the "people's choice" category- my favorite since it is not only selected by the judges but by the public's vote. Silver winnders include, Hewlett Packard, CBS, CISCO, Disney etc. Won 11 in total for 2010, 21 awards in 2 years. If you haven't seen the PSA's yet, you can check them out on our YouTube Channel.

While you are over at YouTube, don't forget to catch up on all your free offers from our Local Community Raffle Partners. You have less than 2 weeks to buy your ticket before the early bird drawing cut off (August 18). This week we are bringing you an offer from Mario's By the Sea in Dana Point.

Raffling the Good Life,

Rachel Gomez

Dream Vacation

2010-08-02T10:13:00.001-07:00

The words "vacation" and "summer" should always be in the same sentence,right? How many of you are packing your bags to go away? Or maybe you have opted for a local stay-cation? Have you been on your ultimate dream vacation yet? I know I haven't been on mine, but I guess that's why they call it the dream....
If you don't know what your ultimate dream vacation is, I'm sure it is one of the choices on this list of prizes for the multi-ticket raffle. The list can be viewed here. I am lucky enough to drive to the beautiful Ocean Institute everyday and enjoy the sun shining over the water and the cool beautiful breeze, but even I find myself thinking about the different adventures that are on this list. Most of these trips include exclusive privileges that are once in a life time opportunities. It's Monday.... let your mind wonder off to driving a Porsche through the streets of Europe, discovering new creatures in the Galapagos, or enjoying a spa retreat in Paris.

What about sitting so close to your favorite sporting event that you can spot Jack Nicholson, or seeing your favorite celebs at the Grammy's? This fall, someone is really going to have to make the decision of what vacation to choose.

Now that we are in August, I always feel like it is the half way point for summer. Summer is almost over... and so is your time to buy your raffle tickets to be eligible for these early bird prizes! Remember, that if you win one of these prizes you can still win the grand prize also. Can you imagine... ultimate dream vacation before moving into your new house?

Now that I have you off in dream land with your toes in soft sand in Cabo, or chasing after lions on a safari in Africa, let's bring you back to Dana Point. Whether you're vacationing at the Laguna Cliff's Marriott, or on your stay-cation here in the harbor, let's go down to Coffee Importers for your next 2010 Laguna Beach Home Raffle ticket offer!

You only have 2 more weeks to buy your tickets before the first early bird deadline (Aug. 18), but you will need the rest of summer to pick up all of your free offers for being a 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle ticket purchaser! Scroll down below to plot out your stay-cation here in OC with your free offers.

Raffling the Good Life,
Rachel Gomez

Are You Busy?

2010-07-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

It’s summer time! We are enjoying the Year Without the Summer while it lasts! The cool breeze and late sunshine have been the perfect break from the usually sweaty summer weather. Out my window I can see the vacation condo’s on the bluff packed with guests airing out their beach towels and enjoying the afternoon breeze. When the sun peaks out for those few hours in the afternoon the harbor is packed with vacationers taking leisurely strolls and the athletically inclined running up and down Harbor Drive. Over at the other side of the harbor in Doheny Beach, the waves are packed with surfers and just North of me in Laguna Beach people are enjoying the water, beach volleyball, and having picnics packed with ripe fruit and cold beverages.

So the same question is brought to me quite frequently by friends and family, “so it’s the summer time, are you busy?” My answer: YES!! Even though the teachers that I work with are hopefully vacationing somewhere tropical and most importantly for them, very quiet and free of boisterous children; I am working away at the Institute listening to our students oohh and aww at the mysteries they are discovering during their short time with us. The team here is answering phones, setting up events and facilitating children and parents through our summer camp programs. We are answering ocean related inquiries including the all important question, “when is the best time to see the tide pools?” In case you are wondering to yourself right now, “yeah, that’s a great question, when is the best time to see the tide pools?” There is no general time of day that is best; low tide changes everyday. You can reference many online sites like: http://freetidetables.com/ or http://www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/californiasites.html. You could also purchase a tide calendar in our gift store.

What keeps me the busiest in the summer? Since you have already read the title of this blog, do I need to answer the question? The 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle! Besides the normal raffle operations of answering your phone calls, placing ads, and creating community relationships, this year, we started out with calling all of our previous buyers to thank them for their purchase and give them a chance to be one of the first people to participate in the raffle. My favorite days have been working with our local partners in the community setting up special offers for our ticket purchasers. Like the day we went to Sarducci’s in the beautiful city of San Juan Capistrano…..

If you’ve never visited the city of the SJC you need to put it on your list! The SJC Mission is considered to be the jewel of all the California missions and is located right in the center of the city. I love to be at the Mission on sunny bright days when there is a nice breeze coming through. It’s amazing how small you can feel while standing in the ruins of the Great Stone Church. The Ocean Institute is privileged to be able to send about 6,000 students through the Mission while en route to our residential facility in the Cleavland National Forest. The gardens and the history that is brought to life at the Mission are unforgettable. Sarducci’s is about a block away from the Mission right next to the Amtrak station and the Regency Theatre. The white chocolate raspberry cheesecake at Sarducci’s is about as unforgettable as the city of SJC. Bring your email confirmation of your 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle ticket purchase down to Sarducci's for a slice of that cheesecake or any other dessert of your choice OR a free split of champagne!

Raffling the Good Life,

Rachel Gomez

Instant Win: 2 passes aboard the RV Sea Explorer!

2010-07-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

Any of you want to check out our Research Vessel Sea Explorer? All you have to do is click the follow link on the right of this page and you will be entered into a drawing for 2 tickets to join us for Marine Wildlife Cruise, Morning Breeze Music Cruise, or a Bioluminescence Night Cruise! No purchase is necessary to win. Follow us today!

Starting Week 3!

2010-07-19T15:03:00.000-07:00

Welcome to week 3! I hope you made your ticket purchase already. Not only is this years raffle on track to sell out; we have so many special offers lined up for you, that you are going to need the next 13 weeks to claim them all. I have to admit that this summer has possibly been the most fun I’ve had working at OI. All of our community partners truly offer a fabulous service/product to Orange County. We are so lucky to be able to access such quality venues and I have had the best time checking them out! We never have a reason to say, "there's nothing to do" while living in Orange County.

One of the highlights of last week was our Members event at The Laguna Playhouse. We were treated to a theatrical delight of 50’s tribute singing and dancing in a production called Life Could Be a Dream. This was my first visit to the Playhouse and I was so impressed by the talent produced by our local theatre; it is truly world class. If you haven’t been there yet, you need to check it out.

OI Staff with the cast of Life Could Be a Dream Cast

Right around the corner from The Laguna Play house, is where you will find your next special offer to being a Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle ticket purchaser: Sun Dried Tomato.

This 10% off offer is good through August 18, 2010 and valid at any of the 3 Sundried locations: San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Beach. During my trip, we started with the Crispy Blacked Chicken Spring Rolls that came with delicious honey-cilatro pesto sauce. Then I made my way into a bowl of Creamy Sundried Tomato, Chicken and Vegatables over Bowtie Pasta. It was served with lots of tangy gorgonzola. I can't wait to go back!

Sundried's Laguna location is also conveniently located right next to Hobie where you can pick up your free t-shirt, and a brief walk away from the Wyland Gallery where you can grab a free cup of coffee and a cookie for desert.

Make sure to print out your 2010 Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle e-mail confirmation and go visit Laguna today! I hope to see you all in Downtown!

Raffling the Good Life,

Rachel Gomez

Week Two with Wyland

2010-07-12T15:55:00.000-07:00

Hey Bloggers,

I can't believe how fast week 1 of the raffle flew by! It was so energizing to speak with all of our ticket purchasers who were new and those returning to our raffle. This year, we hope that all of you who are returning to our raffle are also energized by our new LOCal Community Partner program. We have a ton of discounts and freebies lined up for you. The raffle doesn't just end with the final drawing in November; we want you to enjoy the benefits of being a ticket purchaser all year long.

So now you may be asking yourself, "if the final drawing doesn't take place until November, why should I buy my ticket today?" Well besides the 4 additional "Early Bird" drawings that you will be entered into by purchasing your ticket before August 18th, you will get to pick up all of the free merchandise we have lined up for you with our LOCal Community Partner program. Most of the free give-aways are only good until August 18, 2010.

Last week I was assigned the task of hanging out at the Wyland Gallery in Laguna Beach to shoot your video for your next freebie. It wasn't a rough day at all..... The Gallery is AWESOME. It is definitely on my list of recommendations for when you're strolling down town Laguna. They have an awesome deck with perfect views, and perfectly cozy couches to relax and take in the artwork. My favorite part was the Coffee Bar. They serve some of the best coffee in Laguna Beach and THE BEST cookies. Definitely not break-and-bake. YUM! I knew, they had to be FREE for YOU the ticket purchaser. Wyland is also throwing in a free poster of your choice if you make a ticket purchase while you are in the gallery.

Again, this offer from Wyland is only good until August 18, 2010. So call us at 949-542-3600 and buy your ticket today, so that you can take your email confirmation down to the gallery to get that cookie and coffee. It's perfect timing now that the June gloom has finally lifted!

Raffling the Good Life,
Rachel Gomez

Free T-Shirt from Hobie!

2010-07-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please...... here is your first free offer for being a Home Raffle ticket purchaser!

Bring your email confirmation or ticket receipt into Hobie at the Dana Point location to receive a free Hobie T-Shirt. Also, since your raffle ticket purchase makes you and OI member, you will get 15% off any purchase at Hobie! How sweet is that? A discount and a freebie!

The free t-shirt offer is good starting today and will run until August 18, 2010 or while supplies last. Proof of Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle ticket purchase must be shown at the Hobie location, or purchase your ticket inside Hobie.

Raffling the Good Life,
Rachel Gomez

Welcome to the Home Raffle

2010-07-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Next 16 Weeks

2010-07-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

I woke up so excited to come to work today! Why would I be excited to return to work after a perfect, long holiday weekend?

(my desk this morning)

Today is the first day of our raffle journey. Over the next 16 weeks here in the office our phones will be so busy ringing that it will resemble the sound of Vegas slot machines. During these phone calls we will be busy selling tickets to people purchasing hope and the opportunity to dream.

While their ticket purchase is really going to the bottom line here at the Ocean Institute, to help us educate, nurture, and inspire kids, the force driving their purchase is the idea of living in a beautiful home in Laguna Beach with white water views. And for some, it’s the idea of having $1 million dollars in the bank to spend on cars, purses, vacations or pay off debt, pay their mortgage and provide for their families. No matter the motivation for the ticket purchase, we can hear the sound of excitement in their voices. We are just as excited to sell them their ticket because we are OI raffle veterans, and we know their hope is REAL.

(Elizabeth on the phone)

Someone is REALLY going to have to choose their dream vacation.
Someone is REALLY going to drive away in a brand new Toyota Prius
Someone is REALLY going to win a million dollars
Children’s lives will REALLY be changed by the funds raised through the raffle

I look forward to this blog serving as a forum for a discussion of hope and dreams and that we can discuss the prizes and opportunities provided through the raffle. I will also be using this blog to post our Flip camera videos featuring local businesses that are supporting the raffle, and giving our viewers special deals. Who doesn’t love a discount?

Follow our blog! Tweet us! FB us! Skype me! AIM me! Or give us a call in the raffle office!

Raffling the Good Life,

Rachel Gomez