SHERBURNE – Friends of Rogers announced their second annual Electric Car Raffle on Friday.

This fundraising raffle features a prize of a 2020 Tesla Model 3, ($36,000) ARV. The raffle runs from March 19, 2021 at 10 a.m. to October 15, 2021 at 6 p.m.

The drawing will be held on October 21, 2021 at noon, at Rogers Center and will be open to the public. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20 and other bundles are available. All details and rules for the raffle can be found on their website, www.FriendsofRogers.org or www.FriendsofRogers.org, click on “Win a Tesla.”

The first raffle, held in 2020, was a successful endeavor, even while the buildings were closed to the public and with ever changing COVID restrictions for events and in-person activities.

Friends of Rogers staff were able to educate people on the features of driving an electric car and hopes to continue this as an annual piece of environmental education. The winner of the 2020 raffle was Virginia Huerfeld of Glenmont, NY.

The raffle in 2020 brought in revenue from ticket sales online, by mail and by phone all while the camps and other programs had to be cancelled. This weekly revenue helped to sustain the nonprofit during the worst of the COVID restrictions and will again in 2021.

Executive Director Simon Solomon said “We enjoyed introducing people to the electric vehicle last year and look forward to showing the car and educating people on driving electric this year too. We also raise money for our environmental education programs in the process, which helps us while the buildings are closed, and camps are still questionable.”

Rogers' Director of Development Heather Tehan added “With the temporary move of the store from the Visitor Center to the Bird Cabin this year, we expect that more people will see the car. Being closer to the trout ponds will allow for more people to buy fish food and other items in the store as well.”

The Visitor Center construction is underway with a fall 2021 date in mind for the unveiling of the new building with new exhibits and the brick campaign patio installation. As always, the trails are open and fish food available in the dispensers near the trout ponds.

The 2020 Tesla Model 3 is going to be on site at Rogers Center for people to see, near the Bird Cabin during store hours, by appointment or by chance. They also have the 3rd Electric Car Show scheduled for October 3rd to join with National Drive Electric Week. Last year’s event brought 22 EV’s on property with a variety of electric vehicles on display and test rides given.

You can register for the event at driveelectricweek.org.

Rogers Center is operated by Environmental Education Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization that offers educational programs for people of all ages. The staff is currently working in shifts between home, Bird Cabin, and the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center building remains closed to the public with the restrooms open Friday through Sunday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.and during any programs.

-From the Friends of Rogers