Vermont Rotary Raises $9K Yearly for Student Dreams

For nearly seven decades, a community fundraiser in Ludlow, Vermont has been turning donated prizes and pocket change into life-changing opportunities for local high school seniors.

The Ludlow Rotary Club will host its 68th annual Penny Sale on April 25 at Ludlow Elementary School. What started as a simple raffle tradition in the 1950s has blossomed into a scholarship powerhouse that's awarded over $175,000 in the past 25 years alone.

Last year, the club distributed $9,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from Ludlow, Mount Holly, Plymouth, and Cavendish. That money helps students pursue college degrees, trade programs, and advanced training they might not otherwise afford.

The event itself is pure small-town charm. Three rounds of raffles feature more than 100 prizes each, all donated by local businesses and residents. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with refreshments available and tickets sold individually or in discounted bundles.

A cash raffle sweetens the deal with prizes ranging from $50 to $500. Winners who attend in person get an extra $25 bonus, but you don't need to be there to claim your cash prize.

The Ripple Effect

Behind every scholarship is a student who can now afford textbooks, tuition, or housing. Behind every donation is a local business investing in its community's future. And behind the entire operation is the Ludlow Rotary Club, now in its 99th year of service.

Kim Lampert and Jim Rumrill are chairing this year's event. The club is currently collecting donations of merchandise, gift certificates, or cash from area supporters. Every contribution, no matter how small, feeds directly back into local students' educational dreams.

The beauty of the Penny Sale lies in its simplicity. Neighbors gather for an evening of fun, community connection, and friendly competition. The money raised stays local, funding scholarships for kids these Rotarians have watched grow up.

In an era when college costs seem impossibly high, small-town fundraisers like this prove that communities still take care of their own. One raffle ticket at a time, Ludlow is building futures.