SAGINAW- The Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan drew the winners of its BIG Raffle during an event at the Diocesan Center for Ministry on Thursday, March 14. More than 18,000 BIG Raffle tickets were sold by 42 parishes and schools in communities across the diocese. The Foundation estimates that over $50,000 will be immediately distributed to participating Catholic schools and parishes, with event proceeds going to the St. John Neumann Catholic Education Endowment.
Since 2011, parishes and schools of the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw have raised nearly $600,000 through the Big Raffle.
The Foundation administers the St. John Neumann Catholic Education Endowment, which has been provided almost $150,000 in grants to programs and initiatives in communities served by the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw since the fund was created in 2012. Grants benefit communities in a variety of ways including vacation bible school, food pantries and gardens.
“The Foundation coordinates the annual BIG Raffle event to help parishes and schools raise funds for programs that benefit many different kinds of ministries,” reflects Foundation President Mike Shabluk. "We are grateful for our generous sponsors who make the BIG Raffle possible."
The BIG Raffle is one way the Foundation assists a wide range of ministries. In addition to the many programs supported, the BIG Raffle offers an annual opportunity to win major prizes. The following is a list of the Big Raffle’s top prizes along with the 2019 winners:
• Chevrolet Spark or $10,000 cash sponsored by McDonald Chevrolet:
Kayla Harrington, Saginaw, Michigan
• $5,000 Home Improvement sponsored by Catholic Federal Credit Union and R.C. Hendrick & Sons:
Jim Lamia, Saginaw, Michigan
• Airfare for two to anywhere in the continental U.S. sponsored by Morley Companies, Inc.: Ann Marie Pendell, Bay City, Michigan
• Apple I-Pad sponsored by Looby Baumgarten PC:
Annie Sanders, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
• Laptop Computer sponsored by Yeo and Yeo CPAs & Business Consultants:
Rick Roberts, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
Top seller incentive winners:
Tom McCann (St. Brigid Parish, Midland), Kathleen Marschall (Ave Maria Parish, Lexington), Jack Stehle (St. Michael School, Pinconning), Mary Kay Yonker (Sacred Heart Academy, Mt. Pleasant), Marcia Kleinebreil (Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption, Saginaw), Mark Wilke (Ave Maria Parish, Lexington), Ian Wood (Nouvel Catholic Central High School, Saginaw), Cindy Lutz (Our Lady Consolata Parish, Cass City), Mary Smith (St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, Vassar), Tom Belanger (Ave Maria Parish, Lexington)
Annually, the Catholic Community Foundation of Mid-Michigan (CCFMM), a nonprofit organization, distributes over one million dollars in support of ministries that are provided through the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw, its parishes, schools, agencies and partner organizations. The Foundation honors faithful giving by responsibly managing and distributing donor gifts in a manner reflective of the teachings of Jesus Christ.