Students at nearly 90 Catholic schools in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, including St. Andrew Catholic School in Elk River and Mary Queen of Peace in Rogers, are selling raffle tickets as part of the Catholic Schools Raffle. Ticket buyers have the opportunity to win $45,000 in prizes, including a 2015 Ford Escape or $25,000 cash, vacation packages and more.
Catholic Schools Raffle
The 86 schools participating will keep 100 percent of every $5 ticket sold, thanks to raffle sponsor Catholic United Financial. The St. Paul-based company covers the entire cost of the prizes and promotional materials.
More than 16,500 students are selling tickets through March 8, prior to the official drawing at 11 a.m. March 19 at Catholic United Financial’s home office. Hopeful ticket holders can watch the drawing ceremony live online at www.catholicunited.org/raffle.
Last year, participating schools raised a combined total of more than $1 million in just six weeks, an amount Catholic United Financial would like to repeat in 2015.
In this raffle’s five-year existence, it has helped Catholic schools in the Upper Midwest raise more than $3 million. The money raised has allowed the schools to provide tuition assistance, improve technology and pay for special learning opportunities, such as field trips and special guest speakers.
Along with the ticket sale revenue from the raffle, participating schools have a shot at winning a $3,000 grant from Catholic United Financial if it is one of the top three performing schools (based on the number of tickets sold per student). The company also awards the top-selling student at each school a $100 Visa gift card and a pizza party to each top classroom.
Raffle updates can be followed on Twitter (@raffle4schools) and on Facebook at facebook.com/catholicschoolsraffle.