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Every Kansas fan who donates a few dollars to Lawrence-area families in need this week via Bill Self's charitable foundation will be entered into a raffle for an especially unusual prize.
The Jayhawks coach will record the winner's voicemail greeting.
Assists Foundation director Erin Zimney hatched the idea for the raffle because a voicemail message courtesy of Self was one of the most popular items auctioned at the organization's biggest annual charitable fundraiser last summer. One winning bidder paid handsomely to have Self to record a greeting that said he was taking messages while the person callers were trying to reach was on the golf course.
"We ended up doing two of them each year because we had so many bidders," Zimney said via email. "Coach ad-libbed, but I think most people who are familiar with him probably expect and want that to happen."
Proceeds from the fundraiser will help pay for the shopping trip the Kansas basketball team takes each December to purchase food, clothing and holiday gifts for low-income families in need. Last year, the Jayhawks bought gifts for more than 50 people, checking off items from ranging from towels and kitchen equipment to Barbies and makeup.
Zimney involved Self in fundraising for last year's shopping trip by auctioning a 15-minute Skype video call with the Jayhawks coach on Christmas Eve. The winning bidder paid more than $4,000 last December, but Zimney decided to opt for a raffle format this year so fans who didn't have that kind of money to burn could participate.
