CARRABASSETT VALLEY — On Saturday, Feb. 23, Carrabassett Valley Academy will hold its annual Big Raffle and Auction at the Sugarloaf Inn from 6 to 9 p.m. As in years past, the highlight of the evening will be the drawing for the $10,000 grand prize winner, but this year’s event will also be a special celebration of CVA’s 30th year.

Silent and live auction items will feature authentic 2010 Olympic apparel, unique adventure experiences with CVA coaches and teachers, as well as some great winter sports equipment, vacation packages and gift certificates to many local businesses.

Proceeds from this event benefit Carrabassett Valley Academy’s Scholarship Fund. This year, scholarships were awarded to 20 deserving and talented student athletes from Maine; in honor of the 30th anniversary, the school is hoping to raise enough funds to offer financial help to 30 Maine students next year.

Each raffle ticket holder has a chance to win one of 30 great prizes all valued at $100 or more and including the grand prize of $10,000. Tickets are $100 each but only 350 will be sold, so purchase them soon before they sell out. The ticket also provides entrance for two to the event reception, including light fare, two free drink tickets and a bid number for the auction. For those who want a sneak preview or who can’t attend the actual event, auction items will soon be posted and available for online bidding at 32auctions.com.

Tickets are available online at gocva.com/raffle. Tickets may also be purchased at the Carrabassett Valley Academy front office, Ayotte’s, The Bag, Gepetto’s, Mountainside Real Estate, the Carrabassett Valley Library, Anti Gravity Complex and at the Sugarloaf base lodge the week before the event. Ticket holders need not be present at the event to win prizes. For more information, contact the CVA event coordinator, Melissa Fogg, at (207) 237-4505 or mfogg@gocva.com.