Hollywood fundraiser Omaze has launched its first UK prize draw, supporting Teenage Cancer Trust
A US charity fundraising platform championed by Hollywood stars including Daniel Craig, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jennifer Lawrence is launching its first UK campaign – offering Brits the chance to win a £1 million Cheadle Hulme house to raise essential funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.
Fronted by Line of Duty and This is England star Vicky McClure and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson, the Omaze Million Pound House Draw will help Teenage Cancer Trust to continue supporting young people with cancer during the coronavirus crisis and beyond.
Los Angeles-based Omaze has already raised over £100 million for more than 300 charities around the world thanks to its revolutionary approach to fundraising. The platform offers entrants incredible incentives to support good causes - ranging from once-in-a-lifetime celebrity experiences to luxury prizes including super cars and exotic holidays.
Previous winners have played mini golf with Bono, lunched with George and Amal Clooney at their Lake Como home, watched the Game of Thrones series finale with Emilia Clarke, enjoyed a Valentine's date with Idris Elba and driven a tank with Arnold Schwarzenegger. One winner even collected the keys to a white Lamborghini Huracan signed and blessed by Pope Francis himself.
Omaze has now set up a dedicated team in the UK for the first time, launching with the Omaze Million Pound House Draw.
Located in Cheadle Hulme, the £1 million dream home comes with a hot tub and all costs covered for the first year. People can enter via post or purchase multiple entry bundles online - starting from just £10.
There will also be 2000 runner-up prizes including a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, one of the first MINI Cooper S Electrics and a £10K home tech hamper.
Eighty percent of the draw profits will go directly to Teenage Cancer Trust and a minimum of £70,000 donated with immediate effect to kickstart the campaign. Beyond combating the knock-on effects caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, Omaze’s long-term donation target is £2.6 million, which could cover the total running costs of all the charity’s services in the North West for two years.
Hey Omazers! Thank You! 🙏
Today marks the 'official' launch of the Omaze Million Pound House Draw. Thanks to everyone who has already taken action and entered the Million Pound House Draw whilst supporting @TeenageCancer. We couldn't do it without you! ❤️ #OmazeHouseDraw pic.twitter.com/uHyqWKP8T6
— Omaze UK (@OmazeUK) May 12, 2020
CEO and co-founder of Omaze Matt Pohlson said: “We’re honoured to partner with Teenage Cancer Trust and help them reach a new audience of potential donors to raise as much money as possible.
“The care they provide to vulnerable patients is incredibly important, especially during these unprecedented times. This is the first of many UK campaigns to support these types of urgent needs.”
He added: “Omaze is a win-win for both charities and donors. By offering an incredible prize like this million-pound home, we’re giving people the chance to win, while also introducing charities to donors they wouldn’t have access to otherwise. We’ve found this method of fundraising is making a big difference to causes all around the world.”
Chief executive of Teenage Cancer Trust Kate Collins said: “Cancer won’t stop for anything, and during this time of uncertainty young people need our support more than ever before.
“Our team of specialist staff are doing all they can to help young people with cancer in incredibly difficult circumstances. At the same time, some of our nurses have been drafted in to help the NHS cope with the increasing pressures being applied by the coronavirus outbreak.
“Our youth support teams are having to adapt and find new ways to provide essential emotional support to young people remotely, many of whom are feeling more isolated than ever before whilst still coming to terms with a cancer diagnosis.
“Our income this year could drop by as much as 50%, so we urgently need to raise another £5 million to maintain our frontline services. That’s why we have started a crucial fundraising appeal so we can respond to this situation and rapidly adapt the way we offer support.
She added: “Partnering with Omaze is a vital way for us to complement that appeal. Their pioneering digital approach to fundraising will help us ensure our frontline staff can continue providing exceptional care to young people and their families during this difficult time.
“This Omaze campaign will help continue to support young people throughout this pandemic, and beyond.”
Omaze has already raised more than £3 million for good causes across the UK, including a £1.1 million donation that enabled the building of children’s hospice Julia’s House in Dorset, which came from an Omaze partnership with Robert Downey Jr and Guy Ritchie. It has also previously linked up with British talent including Benedict Cumberbatch, the Spice Girls and Emilia Clarke.
The Omaze Million Pound House Draw is open until midnight on Thursday 12th November 2020. Draw entries are now available at omaze.co.uk or via teenagecancertrust.org
More about Omaze
Omaze is an online fundraising platform that offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences and prizes to support non-profits around the world. It has raised more than $130 million for causes to date, and was named on the 2020 list of Fast Company’s ‘most innovative companies.’
Omaze’s campaigns complement charities’ own existing fundraising at zero risk and zero cost to them. As an enterprise, it can take risks and have access to capital from investors; the more money made, the more goes to charity - and vice versa.
Omaze operates an 80:20 (charity / Omaze) division on the ‘profits’ after it has recovered the legitimate costs of a campaign; for example prize costs, marketing costs and paying an independent draw auditor to administer the draw.
Omaze runs its business from the 20% of net proceeds. Any cost that is incurred by Omaze irrespective of a given campaign is not included in the costs of the campaign and is paid out of the Omaze 20% - for example salaries, office and admin costs and tech development. Using this proven model has generated more than $130 million for charities worldwide.
Newly launched in the UK, Omaze is listed on the Fundraising Regulator’s register of approved professional fundraisers.
