Braffle Is Back: Wildly Popular Rotary Club Fundraiser Underway Now

BRANFORD, CT —Branford Rotary’s Outrageous Restaurant Raffle is back for its fourth year, and we hope there are still tickets left by the time you finish this sentence.

Braffle sold out each of its first three years, and with only 2,500 tickets available for Braffle IV, the time to get in is now. And the reason is simple: Braffle’s ‘Absurd Grand Prize’ winner will get $100 gift cards to each of 50, yes, 50, Branford restaurants. That’s an absurd $5,000 in gift cards.

The ‘Ridiculous Second Prize’ winner gets $50 cards to all 50. And there are eight more prizes.

Eric Anderson, the 2023 winner, said when he learned he'd won, it felt like a dream.

"It felt surreal when I received a phone call telling me I had won the absurd, crazy grand prize of the Braffle. I was in disbelief," he said. "I haven’t won anything like this before. It was so great being able to eat at all the Branford eateries that participated. I enjoy dining out in Branford very much, so this was a very special prize(s) to win. Each establishment has unique and special offerings to our community, and I thoroughly enjoyed them all."

But he's not done yet: "I still have a few more to experience!"

Braffle was so successful, communities from up the road to across the nation have similar fundraisers, organizers said.

Some of the clubs that have done variations on Braffle are Draffle in Devon, MADraffle in Madison. Graffle in Guilford, Wraffle in West Haven) WRRRafle in Wallingford, Rrrestaffle in Ridgefield and outside of Connecticut in places including Longwood, PA, Watchung, NJ, St. Petersburg, FL, and Wellesley, MA.

The majority of the proceeds go to Branford Counseling & Community Services’ Basic Needs program, which helps families in need with food, rent, and utilities. In other words, every entry you buy is a win for Branford.

“Branford is blessed with great restaurants, and Braffle’s top prizes are so outrageous, it’s hard to resist,” said Branford Rotary President Chuck O’Connor. “I mean, $5,000 in restaurant cards? Or $2,500 in cards? Each winner could eat in a different Branford restaurant every month until late 2028!”

Braffle’s cause is another reason for its success, O’Connor added.

“Branford is also a great community town where people really want to help, and most of the proceeds do just that, supporting fellow residents who really need it,” he said.

Tickets are on sale now at Braffle.org and are just $20 apiece.

The Braffle drawing will be held at 6 p.m. on May 2, and live-streamed at Braffle.org and on Branford Rotary’s Facebook page.

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove will once again pull the winning numbers.

In addition to the grand and second prizes, Braffle also has 3rd through 10th place prizes: a $100 gift card that winners can use at the restaurant of their choice. The gift cards do not expire.

The 2024 Braffle restaurants:

ROSSITTO’S * STONY CREEK BREWERY * PASTA COSI * THE STAND * ARTURO’ S * ELI’S * ROSSO VINO * MARCO’S * THIMBLE ISLAND BREWERY * DOMA * INDIAN NECK PIZZA * NELLIE’S * GUACAMOLE’S * DOCKSIDE KAMPAI * SIAM ORCHID * LONGLEY’S * PEARL WINE BAR * TOMMY SULLIVAN’S * HOME * LOCAL * GW CARSON’S * CAPONE’S * LENNY’S * CAFE FIORE * DARBAR INDIA * 9 EAST * NONNA GINA’S * SHORELINE CAFÉ * IL FORNO * PACILEO’S * CROSTINI * PARTHENON DINER * GENARO’S * LITTLE RIGGS * P&M DELI * LOMONOCO’S * LA LUNA * LOS CHARROS * JALAPENO HEAVEN * ASHLEY’S * MI BELLA * SKY DINER * CHINA GARDEN * P&M DELI * BRANFORD TOWNHOUSE * KAMANA * ARCHIE MOORE’S * HORNET’S NEST.

Learn more about Rotary at BranfordRotary.org.