No fooling, here's a great way to spend $50

This newspaper has a nasty habit of pulling an April Fool’s prank each April 1. Often, there’s a kicker at the end where unsuspecting readers might think they’ve just stumbled into a money tree or other undeserved wealth generator.

What you’re about to read is no joke.

For $50, you could win somebody a quality college education — your child, a grandchild, maybe a valued employee — heck, maybe even yourself if you’d like to go back to school. Regardless, your $50 investment won’t be wasted even if you don’t win.

The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors or hosts numerous educational enterprises like last week’s Reverse Job Fair, is dedicating proceeds from The Super Scholarship Raffle to its education programs. Not new buildings. Not more employees. Not food for meetings. Education.

One lucky winner will walk away with $25,000 worth of college, a sum that covers tuition, fees and books at the University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College or North Idaho College. The winner could combine two years at North Idaho College and finish at one of the other state universities. The winner could go back and finish a bachelor’s degree or, if that’s already done, choose to use the winnings to go on to grad school. Vocational education works, too.

If that isn’t incentive enough, the Chamber is sweetening the pot even more.

Every six weeks, a drawing will be held for additional great prizes, like $700 worth of passes to Silverwood Theme Park which will be given away April 28. To qualify for the drawing, all you need to do is buy at least one of those $50 tickets. Buy more and your chances of winning only go up. The sooner you buy your ticket or tickets, the more drawings you’ll automatically be entered in.

The Press applauds the Post Falls Chamber for this creative way to raise money for its education programs and help put someone through college — a person who might otherwise never have been able to attend.

Tickets can be purchased at www.postfallschamber.com, the Chamber of Commerce office, Super 1 Foods in Post Falls or at any of the three colleges in Coeur d’Alene.

Employers, these tickets would be a nice bonus for your best employees. A great education is the surest ticket to a better life.