Maine Suitcase Party to Benefit Camp Sunshine Set for Sept. 27 in Private Hangar at Portland Jetport

Partygoers bring packed suitcases and raffle winners climb aboard private jet for luxurious weekend in New York City

PORTLAND, Maine (September 4, 2013) – Keller Williams Realty Portland is sponsoring the second annual Maine Suitcase Party fundraiser on Sept. 27 to benefit Camp Sunshine. Partygoers bring packed suitcases to the event, held in a private hangar at the Portland International Jetport, with grand prize raffle winners boarding a private jet with a guest for an expenses-paid, luxurious weekend of a lifetime in New York City.

Other lucky winners and their guests will climb into limousines for luxurious weekend getaways at regional resorts and hotels. Hosted by Maine Aviation Corporation, the Maine Suitcase Party is set for Friday, Sept. 27, from 7-11 p.m. in a private hangar at the Portland Jetport. Tickets are available at www.campsunshine.org/support_us/donations/me_sp.php.

“We had a great launch of this unique fundraising event last year, now we’re looking to build on that momentum for 2013,” said Mark Richard, CEO of Keller Williams Realty Greater Portland. “What’s exciting is that guests arrive with their suitcases packed, ready to be whisked away at some point in the evening if their ticket is drawn. And it’s all for a great cause. Camp Sunshine is a special place, devoted to serving children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.”

Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) is a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco, Maine that provides a welcome respite for children and their families coping with such life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, kidney disease and lupus.

Keller Williams has set a goal to raise $80,000 from the event in 2013, enough to cover the cost of adding an entire new week for families at Camp Sunshine. Last year’s event raised $60,000.

Tickets to the Maine Suitcase Party cost $100 for a First Class ticket, which includes a raffle ticket for the grand prize. A Jetsetter ticket, costing $250, provides access to a special private lounge area inside the hangar. A corporate-level Co-Pilot Package enables partygoers to purchase 12 First Class tickets for the price of 10 - $1,000. Additional raffle entries can be purchased at the event for $50 each.  

For additional information, visit www.mainesuitecaseparty.com or contact Kim Tarbox at Keller Williams at (207) 879-9800.

Guests arrive via the red carpet and will have their photos taken as enter the hangar converted into the event’s upscale venue. The event features cocktails, dancing, live music from Tickle, light appetizers and a silent auction for trips and other items.

At some point in the evening, the hangar doors will open and a private jet will pull up before tickets are drawn and two lucky partygoers and a guest of each board the jet for New York City, returning to Portland on Sunday evening. They will be joined on the jet by a third winner and a guest who win a live auction for the final spot.

The party will continue after the grand prize winners depart. A live and silent auction will follow and additional trips will be raffled. Limos will transport winners and a guest to trips to local hotels and resorts, provided by the Migis Group and other generous donors.

“Camp Sunshine is honored and thrilled to once again be a part of the Maine Suitcase Party, which provides significant support to our program and also provides a thrilling night for those who attend,” said Michael Smith, Director of Special Events at Camp Sunshine. “Last year’s winners literally had the time of their lives in New York. Thanks to the tireless work of our partners Keller Williams, this year’s event promises to be even bigger and brighter, all for the benefit of children and families in need.”

Located along Maine’s Sebago Lake, Camp Sunshine has offered recreational, medical and counseling services at no cost to more than 32,000 people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds since 1984.

Find the Maine Suitcase Party on Facebook. Sponsorships opportunities are still available. For more information, visit www.mainesuitcaseparty.com.

About Keller Williams Realty Portland

Keller Williams Realty Portland, a company owned by Maine real estate agents, has operated a Market Center in Portland since 2003. The company has more than 300 professionals presently serving clients throughout southern and central Maine. The Portland-based company has been recognized for years as one of Keller Williams Realty International’s top performing franchises, and in 2013 it was recognized as one of the Top 50 real estate offices in the entire country by RIS Media. For more information, visit www.kw.com or call 207.553.2600.

About Camp Sunshine

Camp Sunshine offers children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week, and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed upon them on a daily basis. The year-round program is free of charge and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It is the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family — the ill child, the parents and the siblings. Since its inception in 1984, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for more than 32,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to providing 24-hour on-site medical and psychosocial support, the camp offers a variety of daily activities, including swimming, boating, archery and soccer, and special events such as bonfires and cookouts. To support Camp Sunshine, call (207) 655-3800 or visit www.campsunshine.org.

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Photo IDs: The 2012 winners react to having their names drawn for an all-expenses weekend in New York City. Calvin Hunter (top) of Auburn boarded the plane with his wife Carley Kjeretzian and Wendy McKenzie of Warren (bottom) was joined by her sister-in-law Deborah McKenzie of Gorham.

Here is more news and information about Camp Sunshine