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New Year’s Day is expected to be extra special for three lucky winners taking part in this year’s Ultimate Tournament of Roses Experience drawing, which helps fund South Pasadena’s float in the annual Rose Parade.
Mayor Dr. Richard Schneider did the honors, drawing three winners during the Nov. 7 City Council meeting.
First place went to Midge Walvis, who will receive four tickets between the 40 and 50-yard lines for the Rose Bowl Game on January 1. Steve Tepe, the second place winner, will receive four VIP tickets in the reviewing section for the Rose Parade. The third place winner is Carol Wait, who will receive $300 in cash.
Alan Vlacich, an official with the South Pasadena Tournament of Roses Committee, assisted the mayor with the drawing by holding a miniature cooler filled with potential winning tickets.
“It’s all to help our committee raise funds for our city float in the Rose Parade,” explained Vlacich. “It’s one of a number of fundraisers we hold throughout the year to generate enough funds to pay for costs associated with our entry.”
Vlacich says it costs about $100,000 to pay for flowers and materials to create the city’s floral masterpiece each year.
Two hundred tickets were up for grabs in the drawing with the idea of raising $20,000 for the city’s float in the parade.
Vlacich, who said most of the 200 tickets were sold, is busy with the local SPTOR committee, also serving as co-chair of the organization’s golf tournament along with John Vandercook. In addition, he is the nominating chair for incoming board members.
