This story was posted online for the local paper...so generous!
Grand prize winner donates $10,000 prize to United WayIntelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Dec 10, 2009 06:25 EST
Lititz
ArticlePhotosMapRelatedDon't Link Tags
By CINDY STAUFFER, Staff Writer
United Way officials Friday wanted to surprise the lucky guy who won the grand prize in this year's raffle drawing, held annually for its donors.
So they did their own version of the Publishers Clearing House's Prize Patrol.
They showed up at the guy's workplace, Johnson & Johnson/McNeil in Lititz, after making arrangements with managers there. They brought balloons and a giant $10,000 gift certificate to Lowe's, one of the top prizes.
The gaggle of gift-givers gathered in the company cafeteria and had the guy mysteriously summoned there.
But when the raffle winner walked in the door, he turned the tables and delivered a surprise of his own.
"Almost immediately, his reaction was. 'I want to give it back,' " United Way spokeswoman Becca Stamp said. "He didn't really have to think that hard about it."
The winner, who has asked to remain anonymous, had his choice of the $10,000 Lowe's gift certificate, a Harley Davidson Sportster or a Caribbean cruise.
The prizes are donated by local companies or paid for by local donors, who want to offer an incentive for others to give to the campaign.
The top winner chose the Lowe's gift certificate, which was paid for by a sponsor, and will be turned back into cash for the United Way of Lancaster County, which raises money for local service and nonprofit groups.
"The decision of this winner is humbling and heartwarming, especially in a year when the needs of our community are especially great," Greg Lefever, 2009 campaign chair, said in a prepared release.
The day before the prize drawing, Stamp said she was thinking about the winner.
"I left here Thursday thinking, 'Man, somebody is going to be so lucky. $10,000 from Lowe's you could do a lot with $10,000,' " she said.
The man's name was drawn from a hopper that contained about 9,000 raffle tickets from donors who had given $208 or more to the 2009 campaign.
Two more winners were chosen from that group. The second winner had the choice of the two remaining prizes and the third winner won the final prize.
Then, United Way officials added the names of all donors who gave $78 or more to the campaign and drew two more winners. Those people each won a $2,500 cash card.
The United Way surprises all winners at their workplace with balloons and their raffle prize.
Stamp said the prize drawing is always a happy day. This year, it was extremely happy, she said.
"All of Lancaster County was the big winner," she said.
This was the second time that a top prize winner turned around and donated the prize, or part of it, back to the United Way.
In 1996, the winner chose a car, which was one of the top prizes, sold it and donated half of the proceeds, $5,000, back to the United Way.
This year, Brian Simmons, an employee of the High Companies, won the Caribbean cruise, donated by Travel Time Travel Agency. Laurence Powers, an employee of Mount Joy Wire, won the Harley motorcycle, sponsored by a local donor and by Lancaster Harley Davidson.
Charlie Whiteman, a CNH Global employee, and Michelle Baxter, a state welfare department employee, each won a $2,500 cash card, sponsored by Fulton Bank and an anonymous donor.
The annual United Way campaign has raised $7.4 million to date. That is a 5 percent decrease from last year. It will continue to accept donations through the beginning of January.
Grand prize winner donates $10,000 prize to United WayIntelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era
Dec 10, 2009 06:25 EST
Lititz
ArticlePhotosMapRelatedDon't Link Tags
By CINDY STAUFFER, Staff Writer
United Way officials Friday wanted to surprise the lucky guy who won the grand prize in this year's raffle drawing, held annually for its donors.
So they did their own version of the Publishers Clearing House's Prize Patrol.
They showed up at the guy's workplace, Johnson & Johnson/McNeil in Lititz, after making arrangements with managers there. They brought balloons and a giant $10,000 gift certificate to Lowe's, one of the top prizes.
The gaggle of gift-givers gathered in the company cafeteria and had the guy mysteriously summoned there.
But when the raffle winner walked in the door, he turned the tables and delivered a surprise of his own.
"Almost immediately, his reaction was. 'I want to give it back,' " United Way spokeswoman Becca Stamp said. "He didn't really have to think that hard about it."
The winner, who has asked to remain anonymous, had his choice of the $10,000 Lowe's gift certificate, a Harley Davidson Sportster or a Caribbean cruise.
The prizes are donated by local companies or paid for by local donors, who want to offer an incentive for others to give to the campaign.
The top winner chose the Lowe's gift certificate, which was paid for by a sponsor, and will be turned back into cash for the United Way of Lancaster County, which raises money for local service and nonprofit groups.
"The decision of this winner is humbling and heartwarming, especially in a year when the needs of our community are especially great," Greg Lefever, 2009 campaign chair, said in a prepared release.
The day before the prize drawing, Stamp said she was thinking about the winner.
"I left here Thursday thinking, 'Man, somebody is going to be so lucky. $10,000 from Lowe's you could do a lot with $10,000,' " she said.
The man's name was drawn from a hopper that contained about 9,000 raffle tickets from donors who had given $208 or more to the 2009 campaign.
Two more winners were chosen from that group. The second winner had the choice of the two remaining prizes and the third winner won the final prize.
Then, United Way officials added the names of all donors who gave $78 or more to the campaign and drew two more winners. Those people each won a $2,500 cash card.
The United Way surprises all winners at their workplace with balloons and their raffle prize.
Stamp said the prize drawing is always a happy day. This year, it was extremely happy, she said.
"All of Lancaster County was the big winner," she said.
This was the second time that a top prize winner turned around and donated the prize, or part of it, back to the United Way.
In 1996, the winner chose a car, which was one of the top prizes, sold it and donated half of the proceeds, $5,000, back to the United Way.
This year, Brian Simmons, an employee of the High Companies, won the Caribbean cruise, donated by Travel Time Travel Agency. Laurence Powers, an employee of Mount Joy Wire, won the Harley motorcycle, sponsored by a local donor and by Lancaster Harley Davidson.
Charlie Whiteman, a CNH Global employee, and Michelle Baxter, a state welfare department employee, each won a $2,500 cash card, sponsored by Fulton Bank and an anonymous donor.
The annual United Way campaign has raised $7.4 million to date. That is a 5 percent decrease from last year. It will continue to accept donations through the beginning of January.
