Sweepstakes Period: February 1, 2023 – November 15, 2023
Sweepstakes Areas: California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Entrant must be an individual age 18 or older and residing in the Sweepstakes Area to be eligible. Excluded from participating are AFRICAN ANCESTRY’s Board of Directors, officers, committee members and staff, and their immediate families. This sweepstakes is void where prohibited by law. By participating, you agree to these Official Rules.
Drawing & Prizes: At the end of the Sweepstakes Period, and on or after November 15, 2023, a random drawing will be conducted from among all eligible entrants who submit a timely-completed entry (see “Entering” below) during the Sweepstakes Period. The drawing will be conducted by a judge or judges designated by AFRICAN ANCESTRY. There will be one winner chosen. The winner will receive an AFRICAN ANCESTRY family reunion trip, valued at $5,999.00.
Prize Restrictions: No substitution of prizes is permitted except at the sole discretion of AFRICAN ANCESTRY. Any portion of a prize not accepted by the winner will be forfeited. Federal, state, and local taxes on each prize, and any expenses relating to the acceptance and use of a prize not specified herein as being awarded, are the responsibility of the winner. Winners may be required to provide AFRICAN ANCESTRY with their Social Security number so appropriate reports can be filed with all taxing authorities.
Winner Notification: The winner need not be present to win and will be notified by email within 7 business days of the drawing. The prize will be forfeited if the winner does not claim the prize within 30 days of email notification.
Odds: Odds of winning are based on the number of valid entries received.
Entering: To win the prize, you are not required to purchase goods or services, pay any money, or submit to a sales promotion effort. Making a purchase will not increase your chances of winning. To be entered, complete an entry form at one of AFRICAN ANCESTRY’s trade shows to be conducted in the Sweepstakes Area during the Sweepstakes Period. You can also enter by mailing a 3”x 5” card to African Ancestry, 5614 Connecticut Avenue NW, #297, Washington, DC 20015 (attention: Legal). Mail entries must include your name, age, phone number, zip code, and e-mail address. All mailed entries must be postmarked between February 21, 2023 and be received by AFRICAN ANCESTRY before November 15, 2023. One entry per envelope. No mechanically reproduced entries will be accepted. All entries become the property of AFRICAN ANCESTRY and will not be returned. Entries submitted by mail have an equal chance of winning the prize, which will depend on the number of entries received.
Additional Terms: By participating, entrants agree to (a) these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges and AFRICAN ANCESTRY, which shall be final in all respects; and (b) release, discharge, indemnify, and hold harmless AFRICAN ANCESTRY, its advertising and promotion agencies, and all of their respective officers, directors, committee members, shareholders, agents, employees, representatives, and affiliates from any liability, claims, or damages arising out of their participation in the drawing and the acceptance, use, misuse, or possession of the prize. AFRICAN ANCESTRY reserves the right to modify prize award procedures. AFRICAN ANCESTRY reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any entry or entrant and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the drawing and at its sole discretion award prizes from among all eligible entries validly received prior to the action taken. AFRICAN ANCESTRY is not responsible for printing or typographical errors in any drawing-related materials; for stolen, lost, late, misdirected, damaged, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, or postage-due mail or entries. AFRICAN ANCESTRY reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend this Sweepstakes. AFRICAN ANCESTRY reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any entrant, including the winner, who does not comply with these Official Rules. AFRICAN ANCESTRY also reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any entrant, including the winner, who does or attempts to enter the Sweepstakes through any means other than as described in these Official Rules, undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes, circumvent the terms and conditions of these Official Rules, or otherwise tamper with the Sweepstakes in any manner. If any of the above occurs, AFRICAN ANCESTRY reserves the right to remedy any such action, disruption, or circumvention, and to seek damages from an entrant, including seeking an award of attorneys’ fees and costs, as permitted by law.
Consent to Publicity and Release: By entering the Sweepstakes, you (a) consent to the release of your name on the winners list in the event that you win the prize without further compensation unless such use is prohibited by applicable law; and (b) agree that AFRICAN ANCESTRY can use and reproduce your name, photograph, and/or likeness, and related materials concerning your family reunion trip in any marketing channel in AFRICAN ANCESTRY’s discretion. You agree to release and hold harmless AFRICAN ANCESTRY, its employees, officers, directors, committee members, agents, representatives, and affiliates from any and all claims of any kind arising directly or indirectly from any publication of the winners list or any use of your photo or likeness in connection with the Sweepstakes.
Official Rules: Questions concerning the Sweepstakes, or these Official Rules can be directed to African Ancestry, 5614 Connecticut Avenue NW, #297, Washington, DC 20015 (attention: Legal). A copy of the winners list may be obtained after the conclusion of the Sweepstakes period by submitting a written request to this same address. Questions concerning any aspect of this Sweepstakes will be resolved by the AFRICAN ANCESTRY, and any such resolution will be final. AFRICAN ANCESTRY is the sole sponsor of this Sweepstakes.