Tucson Medical Center’s sixth annual TMC Mega Raffle broke records with its earliest sell-out to date and the 50/50 jackpot hitting nearly $700,000. As a result, both the Early Bird and Final winner drawings took place last week. On Wednesday, March 14 Early Bird winners were selected and on Thursday, March 15 the winners of the Grand Prize packages, 50/50 Jackpot and remaining 2400 plus prizes were drawn. While the results are still being totaled, net proceeds benefiting the hospital are projected to be the highest yet.
Michael Duran, vice president and chief development officer exclaimed, “We are overwhelmed and humbled by the tremendous response from the community and their support for the 2018 TMC Mega Raffle! It was a record breaking year with tickets selling out three weeks early and the 50/50 jackpot reaching an all-time high. Thanks to everyone that entered. With your support we will continue to deliver exceptional health care with compassion.”
The two Early Bird prize winners were Robert Vernon of Sierra Vista and Joanne Haller of Tucson. Vernon won the Kenya African Safari vacation package and a 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport 4X4 and Joanne won the vacation for two to Iceland Excursion and 2018 Jeep Compass Trailhawk 4X4. Both Early Bird Prizes were valued at more than $60,000 and included a $17,000 cash prize. Joanne didn’t think that taking her new car on the Iceland vacation was a very wise idea, so instead, for her transport, she opted to find an iceland car rental company that provided 4X4s capable of negotiating the sometimes tricky Iceland terrain.
This year’s Grand prize winner was Frank Martinez, a Tucson native and father of six. He and his wife both consider TMC their family’s hospital. His wife worked as a clerk at the hospital when she was attending college and all of their children were born at TMC.
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Frank purchased one ticket and five entries into the jackpot. He was shocked to learn his ticket was the winner of the A.F. Sterling Home or $600,000 cash, “This is life changing for us. We are so grateful to TMC.”
Beverly Kudla of SaddleBrooke is the winner of Grand Prize No. 2 – a 2018 Lexus LC plus cash or a $150,000 cash option. Kudla entered the raffle for the first time after missing the deadline previous years. Her husband received care at TMC and win or lose she wanted to enter, “Even if I didn’t win, TMC has been good to us.”
This year’s jackpot winner is Barbara Gomez of Mesa, Arizona. Gomez enters the raffle annually, as a way to give back. She is a cancer survivor that received treatment at TMC 40 years ago. Gomez will split the 50/50 jackpot totaling $693,600 with TMC and plans to do something for her grandchildren with her winnings.
“Year after year we see increasing excitement for this annual event and this year’s early sell-out says it all,” explains Kathy Rice, director of the TMC Mega Raffle. “The success can be directly attributed to the community and its rallying support for the Mega Raffle and TMC.”
If you are interested in raising money for a good cause, whilst having the chance to win something, you may want to consider entering charity sweepstakes. Just like the TMC Mega Raffle, it supports charities.
The proceeds from the TMC Mega Raffle support patient programs and services that directly impact patient care. The raffle has previously generated more than $4.1 million for TMC, which has helped fund programs and services impacting patients from birth to end of life.
To learn more about the winners and the services funded, visit TMCmegaRaffle.org.