The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

DA's office isn't after nonprofits

Contrary to the story that ran in the Aug. 12 issue of The Resident, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office has not prosecuted nonprofit organizations for holding raffles, sweepstakes and drawings. We do not intend to devote resources to such matters. Reports to the contrary are false.

Knowing such fundraising methods can technically constitute unlawful lotteries, nonprofit organizations occasionally ask us about laws surrounding such matters. We have recently had requests from conscientious organizations for a printed summary of what constitutes unlawful lotteries. We decided it would be helpful to help publish a public service announcement summarizing those laws. That announcement stated exceptions to those laws, pointed out that donation drawings are lawful and described how drawings and raffles can simply be done in a lawful way by allowing persons to participate without paying for the chance. Our purpose was to advise how to avoid unlawful and possibly embarrassing conduct.

Unfortunately, our announcement regarding raffle law was misunderstood by Metro Newspapers as signaling some kind of DA crackdown on charitable fundraising. Were our public announcement a signal that we were focusing on nonprofit fundraisers, the insults printed about my office would be quite valid. However, that perception is far from the truth. Our purpose was to be helpful. I apologize for not being sufficiently clear to avoid an unwarranted newspaper focus on the unlawfulness of lotteries.

George Kennedy
Santa Clara County District Attorney

Quinces wanted for jelly-making

I'm a native of Santa Clara Valley and a resident of Willow Glen since 1950.

My husband and I want to make quince jelly and need quinces! Please help. Call us at 266-6329. We make many kinds of jam and jelly to give to over 10 children and their families on Christmas. Thanks.

Esther and Rick
Fuschia Drive

Corrections

The name of a co-owner of the White Dove Cafe was misspelled in the Aug. 19 issue of The Resident. His name is Jeff Michel.

In an Aug. 12 article about illegal raffles, Presentation High School's back-to-school "benefit drawing" was mentioned as a raffle that would fall into that category. According to Presentation spokeswoman Sister Stephanie Still, since the drawing allows for people who ask for a free ticket to receive one, it does not fall under the district attorney's definition of an illegal raffle.

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