Hello LEGO fans...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. It's that time of year again. Time to raise money for my son Max's school, St. Paul School, in Burlington, NJ. After a very...VERY...successful first BRICKPICKER LEGO RAFFLE in which we raised over $62,000.00 for the school, a year has passed, and it’s time to raffle off some dynamic LEGO gifts for charity. The money we raised last year literally kept the school open...which is a great thing. It's a special school that once again was voted BEST Private School in Burlington County, NJ, by The Burlington County Times, along with numerous other awards, such as:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE 2017 BRICKPICKER LEGO RAFFLE FOR ST. PAUL SCHOOL!

• Best Private School
• Best PreK-Nursery School
• Best Teacher
• Best Fundraiser
• Best Music Instruction
• Best Tutor Service (Junior National Honor Society)

As I stated last year, St.Paul School (SPS) and its community are wonderful. People from all races and religions attend St. Paul School. Besides excelling in educating the children, the school does a tremendous amount of charity for local people in need. From food drives to helping out at local retirement homes, the children of St.Paul School are required to perform “service hours” that are designed to teach generosity, altruism and instill a hard-working, disciplined attitude. Excellence is expected and permeates through St. Paul School and the faculty and student body, so does a sense of goodness and frugalness. We make a little money go a long way. For example:

• All grade levels (Pre – K through 4) are scheduled for “Specials” each week...such as art, music, library, computers, and physical education
• St.Paul School is nationally accredited by “AdvancED” (the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement – NCA – CASI.
• SPS middle-school students have three periods of Spanish and are testing into Spanish II for High School.
• SPS provides more periods of physical education each week than is required by the State.
• SPS provides multiple extracurricular activities such as: LEGO Robotics Club, Science Club, Vocal Choir, Rosary Group, Tonal Chimes, Hand Bell Choir, Crafty Kids Club, Basketball (Boys/Girls), Indoor Soccer, Cheerleading, Yearbook Club, National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), Student Council, MATHCounts, STREAM (Science Technology Religion Engineering Art Math, Activity Tutorial Period (ATP for 5th-8th grades)

But all is not wonderful though. As many of you know, many Catholic schools have a hard time making ends meet. Enrollments are down due to weak economic conditions throughout the world. Even superb schools like St. Paul School have a hard time keeping the doors open. While we did pick up 25 new students this past year to ease the financial burden, we will still be way short of breaking even; thus the need for the 2017 BrickPicker LEGO Raffle 2.0. This year’s version of the LEGO raffle will start with TEN awesome prizes.These include:

PRIZE #1 BRICKPICKER MEMBER RAFFLE LOT:

• 21301 Birds (Salimr)
• Comic Con Throne of Ultron (echin313)
• Comic Con Dagobah Mini-Build (echin313)
• A mint 7144 Slave I (echin313)
• A mint 8001 Battle Droid (echin313)
• 10218 Pet Shop (exciter1)
• Rio Olympic Mascots set (Emvisawthatswho)
• 70816 Benny's Spaceship (Brickcrazyhouse)
• A special custom LEGO snow globe (Flanagan Bros Inc)

PRIZE #2 BRICKPICKER MYSTERY RAFFLE LOT (OVER 5000 PIECES):

• A bundle of quality LEGO sets from multiple themes that will far exceed 5000 pieces!

PRIZE #3:

• 10220 - VW Camper T1 Van
• 42056 - Porsche 911 GT3 RS

PRIZE #4:

• 10227 - UCS B-Wing
• 75060 - UCS Slave I

PRIZE #5:

• 10221 - UCS Super Star Destroyer

PRIZE #6:

• $500 Amazon Gift Certificate

PRIZE #7:

• 75159 - UCS Death Star
  • OR
• 10188 Death Star

PRIZE #8 CHOICE OF:

• 75827 - Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters
  • OR
• 71040 - Disney Castle

PRIZE #9 CHOICE OF:

• 10225 - UCS R2-D2
  • OR
• 10197 - Fire Brigade
  • OR
• 10228 - Haunted House
  • OR
• 10211 - Grand Emporium

PRIZE #10:

• 10255 - Assembly Square
• 10251 - Brick Bank

This year’s total prize value exceeds last year’s total by over $1000.00. Last year we had 11 raffle prizes and winners from around the world. From Vancouver, Canada to Reno, Nevada to Miami Beach, Florida to the Isle of Man, United Kingdom and everywhere in between, generous raffle participants were rewarded with awesome LEGO prizes. The 2017 BrickPicker LEGO Raffle 2.0 can be found here on the secure Rally.up.com site:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE 2017 BRICKPICKER LEGO RAFFLE FOR ST. PAUL SCHOOL!

Like last year, we will ship the prizes to anywhere across the globe. If there is an issue with shipping or prizes, a comparable prize and/or shipping method will be arranged with the winner. Last year, the LEGO BrickPicker Raffle worked very well. The Rallyup.com site is a first class, secure site that made this all possible. They also issued the school a big fat check. All raffle proceeds and donations benefit the school directly by bridging the gap between what tuition covers and actual educational costs. It also raises money to upgrade the school’s technology, keeping St. Paul School ahead of the academic curve with a dynamic curriculum. The prizes have been donated by Jeff and I, the St.Paul School PTA and by some very generous BrickPicker members. I am hoping, like last year, that more people will donate sets after the raffle begins. It was fun adding to the prizes last year. You never know what can pop up as a prize!

On a personal note, I would like to thank every person who donated sets/money and/or bought tickets to last year’s LEGO BrickPicker Raffle. It saved a wonderful school and kept dozens of people employed and 175 kids with their friends and teachers. I don’t like asking, but will anyway...please help out again this year. Even buying one ticket can help and it gives you a chance to win some great prizes. Watching the raffle ticket total rise every day was an intense rush and extremely gratifying experience. It made me so proud to have started this site with my brother Jeff and made me realize there is still good in this world…

The contest will end on February 7, 2017 at 11:59 PM. Winners will be notified by Rallyup.com. If you are a winner, please contact me on the site so we can confirm the prizes and shipping addresses. The Rallyup.com site works very well and is secure, so please feel confident in donating to the school and purchasing raffle tickets. All the money goes to St. Paul School, which is a 501(c)(3), and to Rallyup.com for running the raffle. I will make every effort to supply the winners with the appropriate prizes. If there are shipping issues, inventory issues or potential problems beyond my control, I will make sure the winners are awarded LEGO sets/gift cards comparable to the original prizes. Any questions, ideas or concerns, please reply below or PM Jeff or me...

TICKETS AVAILABLE UNTIL: February 07, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST

DRAWING DATE: February 08, 2017 at 12:00 PM EST

Thanks again!

Ed Mack

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I am stealing Jaisonline's idea from last year!

For each LIKE $***THIS***$ post gets I will donate 1 dollar!

1 like=1 dollar towards the schools raffle!

11 minutes ago, Lego Templar said:

I am stealing Jaisonline's idea from last year!

For each LIKE $***THIS***$ post gets I will donate 1 dollar!

1 like=1 dollar towards the schools raffle!

Oh? Trying to bribe your way onto the leaderboard then? ....Eh, what the heck.

24 minutes ago, TheOrcKing said:

Oh? Trying to bribe your way onto the leaderboard then? ....Eh, what the heck.
 

 

 

 

57 minutes ago, Lego Templar said:

I am stealing Jaisonline's idea from last year!

For each LIKE $***THIS***$ post gets I will donate 1 dollar!

1 like=1 dollar towards the schools raffle!
 

Let's try to break the Leaderboard.. 100,000 likes!!!!

I heard the new BP app update allows for each one of us to give multiple likes to 1 post

Edited December 22, 20169 yr by Lordoflego

I live in New Jersey and am familiar with the location and school, such a great place and cause not just for the school and employees but for the kids as well. Such an amazing idea to put this all together!

We are so very grateful to Ed, Jeff and the Brickpicker community for helping our little school - we are working hard, growing slowly, managing to provide amazing education and well rounded, thoughtful, students who will be our future.  We are teaching them that its worth it to fight for what you believe in and to work hard doing it!  So, thank you from my husband and I and from my two SPS students!

We are so very grateful to Ed, Jeff and the Brickpicker community for helping our little school - we are working hard, growing slowly, managing to provide amazing education and well rounded, thoughtful, students who will be our future.  We are teaching them that its worth it to fight for what you believe in and to work hard doing it!  So, thank you from my husband and I and from my two SPS students!

It's the least we can do! Those guys do a lot for us and it's a good way of giving back and helps a good cause.

Side note Ed did you mention it to Huw over at brickset? I found out about this site from reading about the fundraiser over there. If it wasn't for this fundraiser I wouldn't know all of you! spreading the word is a must! Other Lego sites, Facebook, twitter, Reddit, etc!

Also maybe Just2good, Jang, etc can mention it at the end of one of their videos.

5 minutes ago, Lego Templar said:

 

It's the least we can do! Those guys do a lot for us and it's a good way of giving back and helps a good cause.


Side note Ed did you mention it to Huw over at brickset? I found out about this site from reading about the fundraiser over there. If it wasn't for this fundraiser I wouldn't know all of you! spreading the word is a must! Other Lego sites, Facebook, twitter, etc!

 

Thanks - All insight is helpful to spread the word - just posted to our school FB page and it will go out on Twitter and instagram too!  Looking to boost the posts after Christmas and maybe run an article.  Any other thoughts to get this out there are welcomed!

 

It's the least we can do! Those guys do a lot for us and it's a good way of giving back and helps a good cause.
Side note Ed did you mention it to Huw over at brickset? I found out about this site from reading about the fundraiser over there. If it wasn't for this fundraiser I wouldn't know all of you! spreading the word is a must! Other Lego sites, Facebook, twitter, Reddit, etc!
Also maybe Just2good, Jang, etc can mention it at the end of one of their videos.

Thanks for the nice comments. After Christmas I'll have Jeff reach out to Huw and other major LEGO sites. Huw was kind enough to promote it last year. If this year's version is anything like last year's version of the LEGO raffle, then it will pick up speed as it gets closer to January 31st. People's focus right now is on other things.

It's tough right now to expect too much from people. I know my cash flow right now is low because of buying presents. I know in my case it's because I am rebuying LEGO Hero Factory sets for the third time. The first time was for me. The second time was for my son at the age of 5(he destroyed them all). Now, it's for my son again, but this time he is building them and taking care of them. Too bad they all doubled and tripled in value. LOL.

Lol. Prize #7 cracks me up.
Nice touch.

11 hours ago, Lego Templar said:

I am stealing Jaisonline's idea from last year!

For each LIKE $***THIS***$ post gets I will donate 1 dollar!

1 like=1 dollar towards the schools raffle!
 

And I "borrowed" the idea from @Mos_Eisley.  I'll need to think of something else next year for donating,  can't have too many people using the "like" idea

Lol. Prize #7 cracks me up.
Nice touch.

Well, some people like the "classic" version. Plus, I have a few extras laying around. LOL

Speaking of the Death Star....It was the most popular raffle choice last year. People love it to death...or life.

In case a few of you wondered about the $1.00 "service fee," I removed it.  It was part of an optional commission system that Rallyup.com offered.  I went back to the standard system like last year in which the contributions are "taxed" after the raffle is over and the money is taken out of the school's proceeds.  If anyone paid it, I will gladly refund the dollar.

Thanks...Ed  

The "real" Santa Claus visited St. Paul School yesterday!  Merry Christmas!

I never posted the winners from last year's LEGO Raffle for St. Paul School, but I would like to do so now to show that actual people won the raffles and they were from all parts of world!

LEGO Star Wars Death Star #10188	Blake Wallace   Lake Mary, Florida USA
LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 #10225	Elizabeth Hood   Lynnwood, Washington  USA
Sealed Case of LEGO Series 10 Minifigures #71001 - Get Mr. Gold!!!	Lisa Farmer North Miami Beach, Florida USA
LEGO Monster Haunted House #10228	Jason MacConnell   Bolingbrook, Illinois USA
LEGO Creator Town Hall #10224	Rusty Banbury Reno, Nevada  USA
Bundle #1 Grand Emporium & Parisian Restaurant	Peter Cheung Vancouver, Canada
Mystery Bundle #2: More Than 5000 Pieces!!!	Hamilton Johnson Little Rock, Arkansas USA
Create a Bundle #3	David Chua Pasadena, California USA
BrickPicker Bundle #5	Karl Langfield Longview, Washington USA
Batman Bundle #4	Mike Hayler Isle of Man, United Kingdom
FRIENDS Bundle #6	Victoria Chi Edmond, Oklahoma  USA

 

Hey Ed, You don't mind if I put a flyer up at my job? I do Human Resources so I can get the word out pretty quick, it's a big facility here in the hospital so everyone is generous especially with the new year coming up ! 

4 minutes ago, Leopard said:

Hey Ed, You don't mind if I put a flyer up at my job? I do Human Resources so I can get the word out pretty quick, it's a big facility here in the hospital so everyone is generous especially with the new year coming up ! 

That would be great.  The school and I would appreciate any sort of help with getting the word out.  Thanks again.

I'm just letting people know I will not remove my gaudy signature until we hit $10,000.00.  That is all. 

CLICK HERE TO HELP SAVE A SCHOOL AND WIN SOME EX$PEN$IVE LEGO SETS !!!  BUY SOME  RAFFLE TICKETS !!!

CLICK HERE TO HELP SAVE A SCHOOL AND WIN SOME EX$PEN$IVE LEGO SETS !!!  BUY SOME  RAFFLE TICKETS !!!

CLICK HERE TO HELP SAVE A SCHOOL AND WIN SOME EX$PEN$IVE LEGO SETS !!!  BUY SOME  RAFFLE TICKETS !!!

 

On ‎12‎/‎24‎/‎2016 at 0:35 PM, Ed Mack said:

The "real" Santa Claus visited St. Paul School yesterday!  Merry Christmas!

Love Santa - what other school children can say they started their school Christmas Break dancing with Santa or hearing him read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" - keep these traditions going!

 

Thanks everyone - keep sharing this event - we have a long way to go and you guys amazed us last year - we are so grateful for your efforts to exceed our successes!  Let's continue to prove why we are St. Paul Strong!  We have parents, teachers and a community that believe in us and you are a part of that!

To you veteran Lego fans out there it may not seem like much, but to a 4-year-old these Legos are everything!  Finally, we were able to get him sets he could put together himself; they are all he has been playing with.  

I am only aware of this site because of the generosity you showed St. Pauls last year.  I know it has already been said, but thank you for your donations.  I look forward to following the rally this year!  Any help you can give is absolutely appreciated.

On a side note - I brought our family to a train show in Bordentown, NJ.  On display was a wicked Lego train setup.  It was just awesome.  Of course the 4-year-old train enthusiast still can't stop talking about it.  I have a feeling I will definitely be using this site in the future to find the best prices on those sets ?

The raffle is starting off a little slow this year, but I have faith in our members.  I have faith in that they procrastinate to the very end.   

We just hit $1000.00.  Thank you.