The Marist Brothers Old Pupil's Association and Vodafone Samoa have teamed up and launched their Vodafone Marist Independence Mega Raffle 2022.

 The launching was held at the St. Joseph's College Hall at Lotopa last Friday with the Vodafone Chief Commercial Officer Rana Bose, the President of Marist Brothers Old Pupil's Association, Tuatagaloa Aumua Ming Chad Leung Wai as well as members of the association and guests. 

The mega prize of the raffle is a Next Generation Ford Ranger Raptor 2023 model that will arrive in Samoa around November this year.

 The launching of the mega raffle last Friday will end with the mega prize draw on 6 January 2023. There will be fortnightly draws as the months progresses with prizes for these fortnightly draws donated by partners and sponsors of the Association. 

The mega prize is sponsored by Ford Samoa. The mega raffle is a joint partnership by Vodafone Samoa and the Association with the support of Ford Samoa. 

Tickets would be available in paper and electronic form. Vodafone Samoa will offer Data Bundle Purchases for Raffle tickets. Buyers can purchase raffle tickets by using Vodafone's mobile wallet service – the M-Tala.

Tuatagaloa said they are in partnership with Vodafone and the mobile phone operator will use its network to sell the raffle tickets. 

“The purpose of the [tonight’s event] is to launch the Marist’s mega raffle. We have partnered with Vodafone. The Vodafone will use its platform to sell raffle tickets. You can use your Vodafone telephone or [mobile] phone to purchase raffle tickets," he said. 

"You can text in or purchase bundles or use the M-Tala to purchase [tickets]. Ford is also providing tremendous assistance. 

"The Ford Ranger Next Generation 2023 model has been provided as the main prize. But aside from the main prize that will be drawn on 6 January next year [2023], every fortnight starting from today we will have draws. 

"For example, the first fortnight draw we’re going to have are two free return-tickets flights to Los Angeles and back donated by the Fiji Airways."

 The mega raffle launched by the Association is for the benefit of Marist schools in our country, according to Tuatagaloa, who also made reference to their other fundraisers in New Zealand.  

 "Just like our Sky City Corporate Dinner that was held at the Sky City Casino in New Zealand, the funds were all donated for the [Marist] schools so every year we are always supporting the [Marist] schools financially."

Giving a speech on behalf of Vodafone Samoa, Mr Bose said Vodafone’s partnership with Marist has been ongoing for several years and the objective of this raffle is to [support] Marist Schools. 

“On behalf of Vodafone, I would like to thank the Marist Brothers for choosing Vodafone as your partner. In fact this relationship [has been] ongoing for the last several years and will continue on to the future," he said. 

"For this particular raffle – the objective of this raffle is to support the Marist schools. We will be using the Vodafone platforms to sell the raffle tickets. 

"Hundred per cent of the proceeds, the money collected... hundred percent is given to the Marist Brothers schools."