VIENNA - The 15th annual Magical Day of Giving to raise money for local nonprofit groups will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Grand Central Mall.
Participating organizations sell tickets to the community, for which they keep all the sales. The Grand Central Mall has raised more than half a million dollars for participating organizations.
This year, more than 40 nonprofit organizations have been selling tickets since late September.
In addition to tickets being sold by charitable groups, tickets are also available at the mall's Guest Services Center. Proceeds from these ticket sales will benefit the United Way Alliance of the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Tickets also can be purchased at the door on Sunday. Through an application and lottery process, participating groups have been chosen to sell tickets at each of the mall entrances and retain all of the ticket sales.
These groups will benefit from day-of sales, in addition to their pre-event efforts.
Fact Box
Entertainment Schedule
2:15 p.m.: Hocking Valley Chorus (With strolling acapella performances to follow throughout the mall)
3 p.m.: New Legacy Trio
4 p.m.: Shine from Logan United Methodist
5 p.m.: West Virginia Kids On First S.T.A.R.S.
All entertainment will be located on the north end of the mall.
Tickets are $5. Children under 12 will receive free admission when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.
In addition to the charitable aspect of the ticket donation, ticket holders will have access to the mall's most exclusive discounts of the year.
Retailers will offer discounts to ticket holders such as $10 to $50 or more off a purchase or 20 percent off the entire purchase, no exclusions. Discounts vary by retailer.
More than 80 prizes will be awarded, such as gift cards, gift baskets, overnight getaways and shopping sprees.
Astorg Auto will sponsor shopping spree giveaways totaling $2,500 that will be awarded as the grand prizes at the event. Two shopping sprees valued at $1,000 each will be awarded, in addition to one shopping spree valued at $500.
Grand Central Mall will also bring back one of the most exciting aspects of the event with the SurPrize Patrol, which will award unsuspecting shoppers with gift cards ranging from $50 to $250. Thirty-six gift cards will be awarded, totaling $5,000.
"This is hands down one of our favorite parts of the event itself. It is so rewarding to be able to help make a purchase for one of our shoppers," said Katrina Stephens, marketing director. "Over the past four years that we have been fortunate enough to be able to create these random acts of kindness, we have received stories, tears and hugs from grateful shoppers who are overjoyed by the fact that we were able to add to their holiday purchases."
Discounts by retailer and door prizes are at www.grandcentralmall.com.
Annually, ticket sales for this event have raised from $25,000 to $30,000 for the participating groups, and 100 percent of that money remains locally, helping the community that Grand Central Mall is so proud to call home, the mall said.
"If you've never been to this event, you should definitely make time to stop by. You will get such a great feeling knowing that you are able to make even the smallest contribution to your community while kicking off your holiday shopping with such a bang," Stephens said.
