Obama inauguration committee seeks essayists, donors (click title to entry - thank you)
By Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The hottest ticket in town — a chance to witness President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration — will be the jackpot in an essay contest being announced today by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
In exchange, participants will be encouraged to donate to the inauguration, though organizers say that is not required.
Linda Douglass, an inaugural committee spokeswoman, said fundraising is "going well" and the committee's move is not an effort to raise cash but to give more Americans a chance to participate.
"This is a way of continuing to move toward our goal of involving as many people as possible," she said.
Ten winners will get tickets to the Jan. 20 swearing-in, the Inaugural Parade and one of the "official" inaugural balls. Each winner will be able to bring one guest. An added perk: Winners will receive airline tickets and two-nights' hotel accommodations — a precious commodity in Washington, where hotel rooms have been booked for weeks.
In exchange, participants will be encouraged to donate to the inauguration, though organizers say that is not required.
Linda Douglass, an inaugural committee spokeswoman, said fundraising is "going well" and the committee's move is not an effort to raise cash but to give more Americans a chance to participate.
"This is a way of continuing to move toward our goal of involving as many people as possible," she said.
Ten winners will get tickets to the Jan. 20 swearing-in, the Inaugural Parade and one of the "official" inaugural balls. Each winner will be able to bring one guest. An added perk: Winners will receive airline tickets and two-nights' hotel accommodations — a precious commodity in Washington, where hotel rooms have been booked for weeks.
