WHAT IS BRAFFLE?
Braffle - Branford Rotary's Outrageous Restaurant Raffle - is an annual fundraiser like no other. The 'Absurd Grand Prize' is a $100 gift card to EACH OF 50 - yes, 50 - Branford restaurants. (A $5,000 value!) The 'Ridiculous Second Prize' is $2,500 in gift cards to 50 restaurants. And there are 8 more prizes!
Braffle 2024, like its three predecessors, sold out, raising $50,000. In total, the four Braffles have raised more than $200,000. The majority of the proceeds go to the town's Basic Needs program, run by Branford Counseling & Community Services, which helps families in need with food, rent, and utilities.
With Braffle, every entry purchased is a win for Branford. Don't forget to look out for Braffle 2025 at Braffle.org, and get your tickets early!
BRAFFLE WINNER CAN'T BELIEVE IT
Just before 7 p.m. on May 2, 2024, incent Valentino got a text. He thought it was a hoax.
“When I looked at my phone, I was thinking, ‘This must be a scam. Someone’s gonna ask me to send ‘em money or give them something,” Valentino recalled.
Actually, it was the other way around. The Branford resident had just won the “Absurd Grand Prize” in Branford Rotary’s annual Braffle – the Outrageous Restaurant Raffle.Valentino is now the proud holder of $5,000 in $100 gift cards to 50 Branford restaurants. Yes, 50.
“I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it,” said Valentino. “This really happened.”
Rotary’s 2024 Braffle, which sold out in two weeks, raised $50,000, with the majority of the proceeds going to the Basic Needs fund at Branford Counseling & Community Services. That program helps struggling families with food, rent and utilities.
Now in its fourth year, Braffle has raised more than $200,000 in all, which makes it unique, said Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove.
“Braffle is the single-most significant annual fundraising event that goes directly to the community of Branford,” said Cosgrove. “It has a tremendous, tremendous impact helping people most in need.”
That impact is why Valentino said he entered Braffle. And the grand prize? That, he said, “...is better than winning money.”
“All these gift cards, it makes you go out, have fun, try something different,” Valentino said. “There’s going to be restaurants I’m going to that I would never try.”
And if you’re a friend of his hoping to grab a free meal, get in line.
“They’ve all been calling me this morning already, telling me what restaurants they want to go to,” he said.
Branford resident Stefanie Breitung-Duffy won Braffle’s “Ridiculous 2nd Prize” - $2,500 in $50 gift cards to 50 local restaurants. Like Valentino, she was amazed.
“When they called to say I’d won, I thought they were joking! I never win anything,” said Breitung-Duffy. “It took me off guard. I was truly moved.”
Breitung-Duffy said she bought tickets because Braffle helps struggling families, but she also likes that it supports local restaurants, which are still recovering from the pandemic that shut down so many. And for her, there was a third benefit.
“I love going out to eat, so now I don’t have to cook,” she joked.
Valentino and Breitung-Duffy took the top prizes, but there were eight other Braffle winners at the May 2 drawing, held at The Stand restaurant. Nicholas DiGrazio Jr., Ainsley Highman, Hilary Brunner, Jill Platt, Lauren Bernacchia, William Ryan, Nancy Judd, and Debra Giordano each took home $100 gift cards they can use at the restaurant of their choice.
“Braffle has ten winners each year, but the great thing about it is the town always wins no matter what,” said Branford Rotary President Chuck O’Connor. “Of course, it is more fun to win, but there’s always Braffle 2025!”
Braffle is just one of many Branford Rotary projects throughout the year. The club is a service organization of more than 60 local women and men who volunteer their time and effort to help those in need in Branford, across the shoreline, and around the world. Rotary welcomes anyone who lives or works in Branford to join them. Send a note to [email protected].
BRAFFLE SELLS OUT
For the second year running, Braffle - Branford Rotary’s Outrageous Restaurant Raffle – sold out for 2021, and the winners have been announced.
With 3,000 tickets at $20 apiece, the 2nd Annual Braffle raised $60,000, most of which will go to Branford Counseling & Community Services’ Basic Needs program, which helps families in need with food, rent and utilities. In other words, win or lose, every entry bought was a win for Branford.
But there was a lot to win. The Absurd Grand Prize winner got $100 gift cards to each of 50 – yes, 50 – Branford restaurants. The Ridiculous Second Prize winner received $50 cards to all 50. And there were eight more prizes.
“Some people are amazed that Branford even has 50 restaurants, but we do,” said Branford Rotary President Ginny Page. “Just think, if you win first or second prize, you could eat at a different Branford restaurant every week for almost a year. If that seems outrageous, it’s because, hey, it is.”
In addition to the Grand and Second prizes, Braffle also has 3rd-10th prizes: $100 gift cards to use at the restaurant of your choice. And the gift cards do not expire.
2020 BRAFFLE RESULTS
Branford Rotary would like to thank all 920 ticket holders who snapped up the 2,000 tickets, as well as our terrific Rotary Partners and of course the 34 restaurants that took part in the 2020 Braffle. We, like most of you, look forward to Braffle 2021, partly for the Braffle, but mostly for the “2021” part.
The 2020 Braffle was part of Branford Rotary’s innovative HELP OUT – TAKE OUT program, which raised more than $73,000 to help Branford restaurants and struggling local families. A partnership with Branford Counseling & Community Services, the program purchases gift cards from local restaurants and distributes them to residents in need, including those who've lost work during the pandemic.
ABSURD GRAND PRIZE:
$100 Gift Cards to 34 Branford Restaurants. Yes, 34 different restaurants! A $3,400 value!
RIDICULOUS SECOND PRIZE:
$50 Gift Cards to 34 Branford Restaurants. A $1,700 value!
SOMEWHAT REASONABLE 3rd-10th PRIZES:
A $100 gift card you can use at the restaurant of your choice.
See you for Braffle 2021!
Braffle, and HELP OUT - TAKE OUT, are supported by our generous Branford Rotary partners: 
