STARS officially launched its 2015 home lottery last week, a lottery that generates nearly one-third of the entire organization’s income.
As a non-profit agency, STARS relies on fundraising and community support to be able to provide emergency services. The STARS helicopters offer service in three provinces – Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta, with select service out to British Columbia.
“Fundraising is absolutely critical to the success of STARS. It fundamentally pays for a third of the operations across three bases and without it, we would be hard-pressed in even the best times to be able to run all three bases,” said STARS board of directors member Rod Kennedy.
“This community has a substantial history of success in doing things like this home lottery and STARS has been the benefactor for many years.”
The available Red Deer dream home is a $900,000, 3,550 sq. ft. bi-level home in the newly developed area of Laredo. Three other dream homes are available as well, for the locations of Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge.
Some of the prizes include $100,000 cash, a 2015 Audi S3 Sedan with a trip to Italy and $10,000 to spend on the trip, a fifth-wheel trailer, 435 cash prizes, 30 jewellery prizes, 185 camping prizes, cameras, outdoor equipment and over 1,000 electronic prizes. Vacation packages are also available for destinations such as South Africa, New York and Hawaii.
There are four categories of ticket sales: single tickets sell for $25, a bundle of three for $60, a pack of six for $100 and 18 tickets for $250.
“New this year is a Lucky Stars 50/50 that has been added. We estimate that it will give buyers a chance to win well over a million dollars. However, it is mostly sold out now,” Kennedy said.
“The STARS lottery is the only one that has sold out for 20 years in a row, so thank you to everyone who buys a ticket.”
The 50/50 tickets can be purchased independently of lottery tickets.
The launch was graced with the presence of a family impacted by the STARS treatment.
Olivia Ramsbottom was only a day old when she had to be flown from the Drumheller hospital and taken to Calgary. Her mother, Naomi, said that the care and attention delivered by STARS not only saved her daughter’s life, but also assured her and brought her a sliver of peace during a difficult time.
“I knew something bad was happening but wasn’t sure what was going on. STARS came and had Olivia stable within minutes. A paramedic gave me a piece of paper with the pilot’s name and names of the crew that were taking care of her. In that moment, he gave me reassurance that it was going to be okay,” Naomi said.
Fundraising is critical for the organization to perform rescues and transport services. Tickets for the lottery can be purchased by calling 1-888-880-0992 or online at www.starslotteryalberta.ca, as well as in person at 160 Lazaro Cl.
The loyalty draw (closed for purchases) will take place on Jan. 29th. The early bird draw takes place on March 20th. The 50/50 draw will take place on April 13th and the final draw will happen on April 16th.
Early bird draw ticket sales end on March 4th, with the final draw and 50/50 ticket sales being cut-off on March 25th.
kmendonsa@reddeerexpress.com
