CRAFTSBURY — Ric Cengeri, a resident of Vermont, had an unforgettable experience at his first Boston Celtics game on April 12, a prize he won at a community raffle. The event was part of a fundraising effort by the Craftsbury Community Care Center. The game coincided with the bustling Boston Marathon weekend and saw the Celtics at the top of their game as the Eastern Conference’s top seed.
The ticket to the game was a gift from a generous supporter of the Care Center, securing Cengeri a spot just a few rows behind the Charlotte Hornets’ bench.
Notably, the Vermont presence was strong that evening. A Colchester resident sat in front of Cengeri, a University of Vermont graduate was right in front of her, and even the Hornets’ coach, Steve Clifford, has roots in Newport.
The Craftsbury Community Care Center, a non-profit residential care facility in the Northeast Kingdom, supports local elders from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Their 2024 “Sports Adventures” raffle included several enticing prizes beyond the Celtics tickets: a signed Boston Bruins puck, a four-person golf package at Mountain View Country Club, lift tickets at Jay Peak, a Celtics basketball, benefits at Craftsbury Outdoor Center, and rentals from Mountain Ops in Stowe.
Cengeri expressed his gratitude for the memorable experience: “Please thank the donors and everyone there. This was my first Celtics game and it was magical.”
The Care Center’s board also conveyed appreciation to their donors, whose contributions significantly bolstered their fundraising initiatives.
