Golden Ticket winners announced
The draw for KMF’s annual Golden Ticket fundraiser took place on Tuesday. Courtesy KMF
It was a lucky day for a handful of community members on Tuesday, with $50,000 in prizes won as part of the Kateri Memorial Foundation (KMF) Golden Ticket draw.
“It was really exciting, there was a lot of anticipation,” said Skye Thomas, KMF’s executive director.
The annual Golden Ticket fundraiser sees half the money raised in ticket sales used for prizes, with the other half going towards KMF initiatives and operations - each ticket costs $100.
While the organization usually sells out, this year they came up slightly short, selling 900 of the 1,000 available tickets. Thomas said that the board decided to do the draw on the advertised date instead of extending the initiative, though the organization could’ve seen an extra $10,000 raised had they reached the 1,000-ticket goal.
“We’re looking at new ways to make up for it, we’re looking at new fresh ideas for fundraising,” Thomas said.
The first-place winner of the draw was Keith Leclaire, who took home $25,000.
“I was wondering why I was getting congratulatory texts when the draw happened,” said Leclaire. “When it hit home, I was very happy. This was my first time winning this amount. I’m happier to have supported the KMF in their fundraising.”
Second-place winners Deborah and Mary Latour and third-place prize winner John McComber took home $10,000 and $5,000 respectively - McComber donated his winnings to the Kateri Memorial Hospital Centre (KMHC).
“There’s really no words for how the community comes together to support the foundation over and over again, no matter what fundraising initiative it is,” said Thomas. “You just feel super grateful.”
The draw took place in the lobby of the KMHC and was livestreamed on Facebook - doctors and patients stopped to watch the draw, adding to the excitement of the day, Thomas said.
She added that money raised makes a real difference and helps the foundation afford things like the cost of an Elvis impersonator to dazzle residents at the long-term care unit, and commission children’s-sized hospital gowns for children using KMHC X-ray services.
“It really helps us fund all of our fundraising initiatives too, and it allows us to work on scholarships, and for us to work on Winter Wonderland,” Thomas said. “The Golden Ticket is the one fundraiser that really, really helps KMF continue doing the work we do.”
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This year’s fundraiser was sponsored by Rez Coffee, and Thomas said the entire KMF board is grateful for the sponsorship and for community members who came out and bought tickets.
“We just want to say thank you to anyone who purchased tickets and anyone who continues to support the KMF, especially our volunteers who sold the tickets,” Thomas said. “We’re so thankful for the community support.”
