With today's state of economy and cost of living prices, each year it gets increasingly difficult to cover all of the expenses involved in hosting the Extravaganza®. To help defray the cost of hosting the Columbus event, our Fundraising Committee Chairs (Marci Coleff and Nisi Pozderac) began months ago soliciting donations for raffles and a Chinese Auction. Throughout the weekend, there will be ongoing 50/50 raffles so you will have multiple chances to win — a winner will be announced after every $500 is sold so you will have the opportunity to win $250 often!

Some of the items already donated for the Chinese Auction include: Heart of Croatia (a basket of their special products); Opolo Vineyards (wine); Nathan's Coffee Roasting (coffee & mugs); Hickory Grove Designs (a blanket with the Columbus Extravaganza® logo); Stephanie Shumkaroff (a doll in a traditional costume); TAA Board of Directors (a complete package for the 2013 Extravaganza®); Šarena Orchestra (a basket including a cevapi maker designed by Goran Djurin); a basket of CD's donated by this year's orchestras. All of these baskets plus more will be displayed in the Vendor Room beginning on Thursday afternoon. Tickets can be purchased for just $1 each or 6 for $5 at the Chinese Auction table, from the TAA Registration table or from the Šarena ladies who will have a poster with pictures of each item with them throughout the weekend.

The committee has also obtained 3 exclusive donations that will be raffled off separately on Saturday evening of the Extravaganza® weekend. They are:

  • A 13x19" open-edition print entitled "Dance" by Jovan Obican — Masterfully created from the original painting on 100% acid free paper and archival inks—new and un-circulated. Blue mat with red metal frame. This item was donated by Nisi Pozderac.

  • Original Handcrafted European Style E-Prim — Solid body, beautiful walnut wood, spruce top with inlay. Handcrafted and donated by Steve Mraz.

  • Rotisserie Spit to Roast Lamb, Pig, Chicken, Turkey, etc. — Galvanized conduit, single stainless steel tube (1.25" diameter), easily transported, tears down to flat package (5 feet). Constructed and donated by Milan Zec.

    You can BUY NOW — A limited number of tickets have been printed for these 3 items and are already available for purchase at $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. Tickets are available from any of the Columbus Extravaganza® Committee Chairpersons or by contacting Fundraising Chairperson Marci Coleff via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by phone at (216) 749-3820. Any one of these items is quite a bargain for the price of the ticket! Don't get shut out of this opportunity—purchase your tickets in advance!

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