Arizona's newest MILLIONAIRE announced at inaugural Phoenix Children's Hospital Raffle
Raffle with a Heart is life-changing for one lucky Avondale resident and patients alike
In front of a live studio audience at the ABC15 studios, the inaugural Phoenix Children's Hospital Raffle with a Heart announced seven winners today, including the Grand Prize winner of $1 million cash and a 2009 Escalade, Cherrie Swindall of Avondale.
"I am going to pay off my daughter's wedding," said Swindall, winner of the Grand Prize $1 million cash and 2009 Escalade, with hands shaking and tears in her eyes.
Swindall bought a single ticket online after receiving the raffle flyer in the mail a month earlier. She admits she was compelled to buy a ticket to benefit both the hospital and give her a one-in-seven chance of winning. When she received the phone call that she was a finalist, she was so skeptical that she assumed it was a practical joke. Swindall celebrated the grand-prize moment with her daughter and son-in-law visiting from out of state, promising that she would pay off their wedding bills.
In a suspenseful process, the seven finalists were drawn on Wednesday, March 4, and contacted shortly thereafter with an invitation to attend the live broadcast of the final drawing. Seven identical glittering envelopes were prepared with each finalist's name sealed within, and held in the raffle auditor's care.
In a sequence from lowest to highest prize value, each envelope was pulled by a Phoenix Children's Hospital representative from a rotating drum and the finalist's name revealed as an owner of a new vehicle including gas card. Over the course of the hour-long drawing, finalists excitedly accepted their prizes until just two people remained. As the sixth winner was announced, Swindall realized that she was now Arizona's newest millionaire.
The additional finalist winners and their prizes are as follows:
Jeanne Grandsbury of Sun Lakes, winner of the 2009 Mercedes Benz SLK55 AMG Roadster, a retired Arizona resident, purchased a seven-pack of tickets. Proclaiming that her lifetime winnings have only amounted to a toaster, she emotionally accepted her sporty new car.
Mildren Canavan of Sun City, winner of the 2009 Cadillac CTS, is a volunteer with the local food bank. As an avid supporter of children's causes such as the Phoenix Children's Hospital Raffle, Canavan remained calm as her name was announced to receive the Cadillac CTS.
Janet Orendorff of Mesa, winner of the 2009 Ford Mustang Convertible, loves the excitement of gaming, frequently visiting local casinos and purchasing lottery tickets. Ordenfoff was sold on the Phoenix Children's Hospital Raffle benefiting the community's kids, and hit the jackpot accepting her Ford Mustang.
Don Byus of Phoenix, winner of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab, purchased seven tickets in support of Phoenix Children's Hospital. With family in Illinois anxiously awaiting his call to confirm his prize winnings, Byus was excited to take the cash option to pay off a few debts.
Kimberly Monaco of North Phoenix, winner of the 2009 Mazda RX-8, purchased a raffle ticket to show her support for Phoenix Children's Hospital. Personally touched by the Hospital, Monaco's 4-year-old daughter has been treated by Phoenix Children's Hospital.
Jean Moore of Ahwatukee, winner of the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid, showed her support for the Hospital by purchasing multiple tickets. Moore's granddaughter was seen by Phoenix Children's Hospital and was thrilled to be a champion of this cause.
The Phoenix Children's Hospital Raffle gave lucky ticket-holders a one-in-seven chance of winning one of more than thousands of extraordinary prizes. Although the million dollar Grand Prize has been awarded, there are many more prizes to be won, such as vacation packages, computers, theatre systems and cameras. Visit the Phoenix Children's Hospital Raffle Web site pchraffle.com on March 18 for the complete list of winners.
Watch the ABC15, Sonoran Living Live coverage.
Since November, Phoenix Children's Hospital's inaugural Raffle has shared the story of its patients, programs and talented physicians to Arizonans statewide, encouraging support for the amazing medical miracles performed every day. As the only freestanding pediatric hospital in Arizona, Phoenix Children's Hospital serves a vital need for children and their families in the state and throughout the Southwest. The Raffle with a Heart has generated substantial new revenues to enhance the Hospital's world-class care. This is especially important given the projected growth of the pediatric population in Arizona during the next several years.
"We are grateful for the incredible support the Raffle with a Heart has received," said Debra Stevens, spokeswoman for the Hospital. "These contributions will help us touch the lives of countless children and their families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest, and we will continue to provide them with the highest level of medical care."
Phoenix Children's Hospital Raffle winners were selected during four drawings from December through March. To see the complete list of winners or for more information on upcoming Raffle with a Heart activities, visit pchraffle.com.
