Bonnie, shown here, of Cape May is the winner of the annual “Make Your Own Getaway” raffle, sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC). Bonnie is a dog. Bonnie’s caretakers, Virginia and Ted Passon, purchased the raffle ticket in Bonnie’s name, and the winning ticket was drawn by Cape May Mayor Chuck Lear at MAC’s Annual Meeting Nov. 8 at The Cape May Winery.
But it wasn’t until MAC Marketing Assistant Leslie Weidel called the winner to share the good news the next morning, Nov. 9, that anyone at MAC realized Bonnie was a dog, not a human being. “I called the phone number written on the winning ticket,” Weidel said, “and asked for ‘Bonnie,’ the name written on the ticket. There was a long silence at the other end of the line. Then the voice on the other end of the line said, ‘Bonnie is my dog.’ I explained why I was calling and we had a really good laugh.”
When claiming the prize, Virginia agreed to bring their beloved pet, whom they adopted from a rescue shelter, and to pose for some photos. They arrived at Hill House at the Emlen Physick Estate in the afternoon, and all were greeted enthusiastically by staff, along with Otis, MAC’s unofficial canine mascot.
“It was such a pleasant surprise to win,” said Virginia. “I am so overwhelmed by the gift certificates. I am very grateful!”
This year’s “Make Your Own Getaway” raffle prize is $2,300 worth of “Cape May Gift Certificates,” which can be used for a wide variety of Cape May accommodations, restaurants, retail stores, attractions, tours and events. The “Make Your Own Getaway” raffle prize can be used at any time of year.
The raffle raised $7,930, which will go toward preservation projects at the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate. Since its founding in 1970, MAC has taken a leadership role in historic preservation, rescuing vital Cape May area landmarks from ruin, including the Emlen Physick Estate, the Cape May Lighthouse and the World War II Lookout Tower near Sunset Beach.
For more information, visit www.capemaymac.org.
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