Raffle supports children's programs

MILFORD — An astounding response to the Center for Developmental Disabilities 10th Annual Chefs Do Dinner Gala has resulted in a sold out event for the upcoming March 25 dining extravaganza. For those of you fortunate to have gotten reservations, the gala promises to be Pike County’s premier culinary event of the year. But when the evening of butlered hor d´ oeuvres, speeches and presentations, and feasting on specialty dishes from our area’s top restaurants is over, the programs provided by CDD to the children of Pike County will go on. CDD provides developmentally appropriate center based preschool to three and four-year old children, and home based services for children birth through age three. Programs offered include: Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts, which provides high quality pre-kindergarten education for threee and four-year olds, with a focus on children at risk of academic failure; Early Intervention, which serves children from birth to age five with disabilities/ developmental delays; and Head Start which provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. All of these programs are provided by CDD at no cost to the families. Funding for all of the programs is very limited, and Head Start and Early Intervention are already underfunded. Yet in Pike County, demand for these programs continues to increase. Proceeds from the gala will help support these programs, but now more than ever, CDD relies upon community support to help meet the challenges of its growing population. You can help. Tickets are still available for the $10,000 grand prize raffle, with a 2nd prize of $1,000 and 3rd prize of $500. Drawing to be held March 25 at the Chef’s Do Dinner Gala, you need not be present to win. Tickets cost $100, and a maximum of 500 tickets will be sold. Know that your tax deductible purchase will make a difference in the lives of the children served. Stop in CDD, 221 Broad Street, Milford to purchased your ticket, or to puchase a ticket by credit card call 570-296-3992.