Whoever wins the Daytona Cubs’ latest promotion won’t be around to enjoy it—guaranteed. The minor-league baseball team is giving away a funeral, and the prize is not transferable.
“The goal of the funeral promotion is to help ensure a funeral for one participant,” said Cubs spokesman Luke Bendick. “It helps educate the public on the importance both emotionally and financially of pre-planning a funeral. We’re basically changing the perception of a funeral being a negative event to a celebration of someone’s life.”
Bendick has been promoting the sweepstakes on local radio stations and has been interviewed by newspapers. The team is also promoting the contest with fliers handed out to fans during the Cubs homestand this week.
The Cubs have partnered with Daytona Beach’s Pinello Funeral Home, who will give the winner a casket, funeral service and viewing with a traditional service or cremation.
Willing participants have to submit a two-page typed essay describing their ideal funeral. There will be five finalists, who will be interviewed in August, and the funeral will be given away Sept. 4.
As unique as the promotion sounds, it is not original. The Hagerstown (MD) Suns, who have the same ownership group, successfully ran the promotion last season.
Bendick said there were between 80 and 100 entries last year in Hagerstown, and that as many or more entries are expected in Daytona.
The promotion is handled in-house.
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