The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Zoofari Cruise Raffle Rules
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Zoofari Raffle (the "Raffle") is a fundraiser conducted by the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization (the “Zoo”). By purchasing a ticket for the Raffle ("Raffle Ticket"), each eligible participant (a "Participant") represents that s/he meets all of the below-stated eligibility requirements and agrees to be bound by these Official Rules, all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, and by the decisions of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium or its authorized representative(s).
1. RAFFLE PERIOD: Raffle Tickets will be sold beginning at 9AM EST on Friday, May 1, 2024 and concluding at 11PM EST on June 22, 2024 unless sold out or stated otherwise.
2. ELIGIBILITY: The Raffle is open to all individuals eighteen (18) years of age or older who reside in the State of Ohio. Paid Zoo staff and members of the Board of Directors and Appointed Board are not eligible to enter or win. The Raffle is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.
3. ENTRY: Raffle Tickets may be purchased remotely during the Raffle Period by use of a mobile phone, laptop, desktop or tablet and valid credit card sold (or cash at the event) beginning at Friday, May 1, 2024 and concluding at 11PM EST on June 22, 2024. Raffle Tickets may be purchased by visiting https://www.columbuszoo.org/zoofari-raffle. The purchase cost of a Raffle Ticket is as follows: One (1) Raffle Tickets for $100.00; The ticket pricing is also subject to change based on special promotions or deals for individual events. Each Raffle Ticket purchased will be considered one (1) entry into the Raffle. A Participant may purchase as many Raffle Tickets as s/he wishes. All Raffle Ticket purchases must be made during the applicable Raffle Period; Raffle Tickets are not eligible for any past or future Raffle drawing. All purchases of Raffle Ticket(s) are sent to the purchaser and a copy is printed and entered into a drum for a manual drawing of the winning ticket . Neither the Zoo, its representative(s) nor any related or affiliated entities are liable for any lost, late, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, undelivered, or destroyed Raffle Tickets regardless of cause or the person responsible, including, but not limited to, any problem or technical malfunction of any computer, online system or server or other technical problem. All purchases are final and no refunds will be made except as otherwise determined by the Zoo in its sole discretion.
4. WINNER SELECTION: After the conclusion of the Raffle Period , the winning Raffle Ticket number (the “Winning Number”) will be selected at random from among all eligible Raffle Tickets purchased during the Raffle Period. The winning ticket will be chosen on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. In the event of a weather delay or postponement of an Event, the Zoo may, in its sole discretion, modify any pre-determined schedule with respect to the Raffle Period and/or the drawing. All drawings shall be conducted by the Zoo whose decision is final and binding.
5. WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: The Winner will be posted on social media and on https://www.columbuszoo.org/zoofari-raffle for a minimum of thirty (30) days following the Event. In addition, the Zoo will provide contact information for a representative at the Zoo handling the claiming of the Prize (the “Zoo Representative”) using the same or similarly reasonable method as the Winning Number announcement.
6. PRIZE: The Participant that purchased the Raffle Ticket with the corresponding Winning Number (a "Prize Claimant") will receive the car designated by the Zoo as the prize (the "Prize"). The Zoo does not in any way warrant as to the condition of the Prize and the Participant will accept the Prize in an “as is” condition, without any representation or warranty of any kind or nature, either express, implied or otherwise. Full details of the prize, any restrictions, and its value can be found at https://www.columbuszoo.org/zoofari-raffle
7. CLAIMING A PRIZE: Prize Claimant need not be present at the time of the drawing to win. To claim the Prize, the Prize Claimant must respond to a Zoo Representative within thirty (30) days from the conclusion of the applicable Raffle Period. The Prize Claimant may be required to show proof of purchase of the Winning Ticket. The Winning Ticket is the only valid receipt for claiming a Prize. Each Prize Claimant must provide the Zoo with all information required to claim the Prize (including tax identification information). The Prize Claimant will receive an Affidavit of Eligibility & Liability/Publicity Release ("Affidavit") in the form approved by the Zoo which must be executed and returned to the Zoo prior to receipt of the Prize. In the event a Prize Claimant: (a) does not notify the Zoo within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the applicable Raffle Period; (b) is ruled ineligible; (c) refuses the Prize; or (d) does not return an executed Affidavit, the Prize will be forfeited and will be retained by the Zoo. The Zoo has no obligation to contact potential winners. Certificate and instructions to redeem prize will be delivered within thirty (30) days of the Prize Claimant delivering the winning Raffle Ticket, executed Affidavit, and all other required documents to the Zoo. For security and safety reasons, no cash payments will be made to the Prize winners. Unclaimed winnings will be retained by the Zoo.
8. ODDS: Odds of winning are based on the total number of raffle tickets purchased in each Raffle Period.
9. TAXES: E ach Participant acknowledges that they have been informed that the IRS has taken the position that amounts paid for chances to participate in raffles, lotteries, or similar programs are not gifts and, therefore, the price of a Raffle Ticket does not qualify as a deductible charitable contribution. The Prize Claimant is responsible for any and all federal, state and local taxes, fees and other government assessments on the awarded Prize. Furthermore, each Prize winner acknowledges that federal law requires that a tax withholding on certain prize values must be collected from winners upon award or distribution. Federal and state withholding laws are subject to change without notice. The withholding laws in effect at the time each Prize is claimed will be followed. Winners of prizes over $600 will receive a W-2G form from the Zoo. Taxes will be withheld in accordance with IRS and State of Ohio guidelines. The Zoo will include, in addition to the Prize, a cash sum paid directly to the Internal Revenue Service, equal to the Zoo’s estimate of applicable federal taxes related to the Prize (“Tax Payment”). To the extent the Internal Revenue Service finds that the Zoo’s Tax Payment does not cover the full amount of the federal tax liability, the Prize Claimant shall be solely responsibility for such additional tax payment. The Zoo shall not be responsible for, and will not make any tax payments related to, state, local, or city taxes, fees, or government assessments on the awarded Prize.
10. TRANSFER OF RAFFLE TICKET: Raffle Tickets may not be resold or transferred to any other party or copied or otherwise duplicated. Any Raffle Ticket which has been resold, transferred, copied or otherwise duplicated shall be void. All individuals who re-sell, purchase, duplicate, or receive a Raffle Ticket in violation of these Official Rules shall be ineligible to participate in the Raffle or to win a Prize, and may be deemed ineligible to participate in future Raffles.
11. PARTICIPANT'S GRANT OF LICENSE: By participating in the Raffle or accepting a Prize, each Participant hereby irrevocably and perpetually grants to the Zoo and its designees a worldwide license to use, publish, reproduce, create derivative works of, distribute and publicly display any images or likenesses taken or captured of the Participant in connection with any participation in the Raffle or receiving a Prize (collectively, the "Images"), in any form, media or content which now or hereafter exists, for advertising, promotional or any other commercial purposes as well as non-commercial purposes. Each Participant waives any compensation for any use of such Images. Each Participant hereby releases and waives any claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities and causes of action arising from the Zoo, its designees, uses of the Images, including, without limitation, any claims for defamation, libel, invasion of privacy, publicity, personality, or exploitation of the Participant's name or likeness.
12. RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY: By participating in the Raffle, the Participant on Participant's behalf and on behalf of the Participant's spouse, assigns, guardians, administrators, executors and legal representatives hereby releases, waives, discharges, covenants not to sue, and indemnifies the Zoo, together with each of its respective past, present or future predecessors, successors, assigns, direct or indirect subsidiaries, affiliates, related entities and persons, owners, and each of their respective shareholders, members, partners, trustees, directors, principals, managers, employees, volunteers, agents, consultants, contractors, representatives, sponsors, and insurers (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any claim or loss arising out of or related to the Participant's participation in the Raffle, acceptance of the Prize, or any exercise by the Zoo of any of its rights set forth herein or the Official Rules of the Raffle, including, but not limited to, any claims related to (i) any damages or injury to the Participant or the Participant's property that occurs in connection with participation in the Raffle, receiving the Prize or any related activities, (ii) any failure to report and pay any income taxes arising from acceptance of the Prize, (iii) any lost, stolen or duplicated Raffle Ticket, (iv) the use of any of the systems or technologies in conducting the Raffle; and (v) the Participant's acts or the acts of any other party with respect to the Participant's receipt of the Prize or participation in the Raffle, regardless of whether any such claims are caused in whole or in part by the negligence of any entity or person released hereunder.
13. DISPUTES AND GOVERNING LAW: The Raffle and the Official Rules Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the United States of America and by the laws of the State of Ohio without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rule of any jurisdiction. ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE RAFFLE OR THE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL BE SETTLED BY BINDING ARBITRATION ADMINISTERED BY THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION (“AAA”) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION RULES, AND JUDGMENT ON THE AWARD RENDERED BY THE ARBITRATOR(S) MAY BE ENTERED IN ANY COURT HAVING JURISDICTION THEREOF. ANY ARBITRATION SHALL TAKE PLACE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY CONTROVERSY OR CLAIM SHALL BE HEARD AND RULED UPON BY ONE (1) ARBITRATOR WHO SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE ZOO. PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSLY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO COURT AND JURY TRIAL. Each Participant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action not waived arising out of or in connection with the Raffle, or any Prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resorting to any form of class action; (2) any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Raffle, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (3) under no circumstances will Participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and Participant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, consequential damages and any other damages (other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses) and further waives any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ZOO OR ANY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES THAT EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE PRIZE AWARDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT IN THE RAFFLE. The Raffle is void outside the State of Ohio, within certain excluded counties within Ohio, the United States and where prohibited by law. These Official Rules are intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the State of Ohio and that if any portion of the Official Rules is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.
14. DISQUALIFICATION; CHANGES: The Zoo reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual that (i) tampers or attempts to tamper or unduly interfere with the operation or integrity of the Raffle, (ii) resells, transfers, copies or otherwise duplicates a Raffle Ticket, (iii) violates the Official Rules, or (iv) acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. The Zoo reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, cancel, suspend and/or modify the Raffle or these Official Rules or disqualify any individual or Raffle Ticket for purposes of protecting the integrity of the Raffle or addressing changes in business operations or other circumstances, to the extent allowed under applicable law. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE, APPLICATION, OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY OR TO UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE RAFFLE IS A VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND POTENTIALLY OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE ZOO RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW AND PURSUE ANY OTHER REMEDIES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE.
15. Geo-Fencing: Participant acknowledges and accepts that certain geo-fencing technology may be utilized in the administration of the Raffle, that the Raffle is not operational outside of the State of Ohio, that the Raffle is not operational in certain counties within Ohio and further waives any claims, demands, rights, errors or omissions against the Zoo caused by said geo-fencing.
16. PRIVACY: Participation in the Raffle via the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and all information collected thereby, shall be subject to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Privacy Policy, available at: https://www.columbuszoo.org/privacy-policy
17. SPONSOR; WINNERS LIST: The sponsor of the Raffle is the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization existing under the laws of the State of Ohio. To obtain the Winning Numbers in writing, please send a request to: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W Powell Drive, Box 400, Powell, Ohio, 43065, together with a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The Winning Numbers also will be posted at on https://www.columbuszoo.org/zoofari-raffle.
