Pandemic-Born 'Braffle,' Rotary Restaurant Raffle Fundraiser Sells Out

BRANFORD, CT —For the third straight year, Branford Rotary’s Outrageous Restaurant Raffle has sold out, with 2,500 tickets snapped up in less than three weeks. Together, the three Braffles have now raised a most impressive $150,000 for the community, with most of the proceeds benefitting the town’s Basic Needs program, which helps low-income families with food, rent and utilities.

“Braffle has taken Branford by storm yet again,” said Branford’s First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. “This kind of crazy but powerful fundraiser contributes an unprecedented amount of money to the Branford Counseling and Community Services Basic Needs program. We are so appreciative of all that the Branford Rotary Club does for our community.”

The 2023 Braffle drawing will be live-streamed on May 16 at 6pm at Braffle.org and on the Branford Rotary’s Facebook page. The winner of the “Absurd Grand Prize” – worth $5,000 – gets $100 gift cards to each of 50 Branford restaurants. The “Ridiculous Second Prize” is $50 gift cards to each of 50 restaurants. Eight other winners will get a $100 gift card to be used at the restaurant of their choice.

“We just get such a kick out of watching people’s reactions when they hear how giant and outrageous the prizes are” said Branford Rotary President Sandy Carter. “Branford has so embraced this – it is both playful and compelling which has really resonated with restaurant
owners and ticket buyers.”

Famed for its ‘Braffle, Braffle, Braffle’ slogan, the raffle was created by Branford Rotary during the pandemic and has captured the hearts and wallets of the shoreline. Each year, more than 1,000 individuals have bought $20 Braffle tickets, which equates to nearly one in every 12 Branford households. The participation from the community, and the restaurants, has been phenomenal.

Braffle and other Branford Rotary Club programs are made possible by the generous support of Branford Rotary Partners : All American Waste, American Polyfilm, Anderson Krause, Branford Building, Branford Dental Care, Branford Road Race, Brown & Knapp/BK Group Benefits,
Burban Landscaping, Cherry Hill Glass, CrossPoint Federal Credit Union, CT Orthopedics, Eventgroove, Evergreen Woods, Guilford Savings Bank, KMK Insulation, MN Reale, Mobeck-Guandalini Insurance, Munger Construction, New Haven Moving Equipment, Raymond James, Salon East, Shoreline Insurance, The Squeri Agency, Terry Architecture and TYCO Printing.

The 50 participating restaurants are- 9 East – Allegra’s – Arturo’s – Archie Moore’s – Ashley’s Ice Cream – Branford Town House – Breakfast Connections – Café Fiore -Capone’s- GW Carson’s – China Garden – USS Chowder Pot – Crostini – Darbar – Dockside – Doma- Eli’s – G Café – Genaros – Home – Hornet’s Nest – Indian Neck Pizza – Il Forno – Jalapeno Heaven – Kampai – La Luna – Lenny’s – Local – Los Charros (opening April) – LoMonaco’s – Marco’s – Mosaico – Nellie’s – Nonna Gina’s – Otoulouse – P&M Deli, Pacilieo’s – Parthenon Diner – Pasta Cosi – Pearl Wine Bar- Pompeo’s – Rossitto’s – Rosso Vino – Shoreline Café – Siam Orchids – Sky Diner – Stony Creek Market – The Stand – Thimble Island Brewery – Tommy Sullivan’s.

About Branford Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Branford, CT is a volunteer group of community leaders from all walks of life who join together to serve. As part of the 1.2 million member Rotary
International, our members give their time and expertise to improve lives in Branford, across the Shoreline, and around the world.