Boys & Girl’s Club Declares Board Member Winner of House Raffle

Boys & Girls Club of Magic Valley Addresses Concerns After Board Member Wins House Raffle

Concerns Raised Over House Giveaway Winner

The Boys & Girls Club of Magic Valley (BGCMV) recently responded to public concerns after a board member was selected as the winner of a house in their inaugural Great Futures House Giveaway. The raffle was the top prize during a fundraiser aimed at supporting the organization, which serves over 4,000 youth across ten club sites throughout the Magic Valley.

Social Media Scrutiny

Following the announcement, several social media users on various platforms raised questions regarding the drawing's integrity, pointing to an alleged section of the posted rules that stated, "Employees or agents of BGCMV or any entity associated with the sponsorship or administration of the Raffle, as well as members of the same household of any such employee or agent, are ineligible to participate."

Some commenters suggested that the board member’s win could present a conflict of interest.

BGCMV Responds to Community Concerns

In response, (scroll below) the Boys & Girls Club of Magic Valley addressed concerns on their official social media page, explaining the process used to ensure fairness. According to the statement, BGCMV partnered with RallyUp, a third-party raffle management company, to conduct the drawing. RallyUp, known for its certified randomization algorithm, was tasked with selecting the winner.

Additionally, the club clarified that its board members do not serve as individual agents, are unpaid volunteers, and were encouraged to participate in the raffle to support fundraising efforts. The organization emphasized that they had consulted legal counsel to ensure board members' eligibility and maintained that the selection process was legal and followed all necessary protocols.

Distinction Between Directors and Officers

There is a distinction between a director and an agent worth noting. Directors are sometimes mistaken as officers, but they are not the same. Officers act as agents. Directors do not.

'Directors as such have no power to act individually and are vested with ultimate authority over the business and affairs of the corporation, they are not agents of the corporation.' - casetext.

You can watch the drawing here or view the embed below:

According to BGCMV, the video shows the drawing being held on a computer using RallyUP to randomly choose the winner, which is a widely accepted adaptation of legacy punch bowl drawings with physical tickets. The screen itself is not displayed in the video. BGCMV stated that information on the monitor was not displayed to protect private information about the winner.

BGCMV’s Commitment to Transparency

BGCMV expressed appreciation for the community’s participation in the fundraiser and acknowledged that while concerns have been raised, they remain committed to transparency. The organization invited anyone with additional questions to reach out via email at houseraffle@bgcmv.com.

As of the publication of this story, comments on the Boys & Girls Club’s social media post regarding the raffle winner are being throttled.

Ongoing Concerns from the Community

Community members continue to question the optics of awarding such a significant prize to a board member, while BGCMV asserts that the drawing was conducted fairly, randomly, and in accordance with legal guidelines.

You can view BGCMV's entire social media response here.