Updated Nov. 3, 2014 1:31 p.m.
Ralph and Linda Whiteman of Winchester, KY, won the Ocracoke Community Park golf cart raffle that took place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1 at SmacNally’s during Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree. The $10 tickets raised $19,230 and all of the proceeds will go to the Ocracoke Community Park. This is the second golf cart fundraising raffle. Last year, more than $18,000 was raised.
Vince O’Neal, president of the Ocracoke Community Park organization, said that the money raised from this raffle is significant and comes at an important developmental stage.
“This money will permit us to purchase the necessary equipment to get the field into playable condition,” he said.
John Giagu, owner of Ocracoke Island Carts, donated the two vehicles. Each cart was refurbished with added lift kits and large tires. He saw these two raffles as a great way to raise money for the ball field.
“This new playing field is very important for Ocracoke,” Giagu said. “I have kids who want to play and saw an opportunity to take my inventory carts and turn them into a big contribution for the field.”
The Whitemans are regular visitors to Ocracoke.
“I was so excited when they called,” Linda said Monday in a phone interview. “I was screaming and yelling. I’m still grinning ear-to-ear.”
They almost left the island during their last visit in early October without getting a raffle ticket.
“That was the very last thing we did before we got the ferry,” Linda said.
