St. Lawrence School Raises $16,785 in Catholic Schools Raffle

According to Principal Brenda Anderson of St. Lawrence Catholic School in Milbank, when you achieve a goal 10 years in a row, that achievement isn’t a fluke or luck. It’s a habit.  Anderson said, “Students and staff at St. Lawrence School put in the extra effort this year by raising $16,785 in the Catholic United Financial Raffle and helped achieve the program’s tenth year in a row of raising more than $1 million for Catholic schools in the Upper Midwest.” 

Beginning January 13, students of St. Lawrence sold $5 raffle tickets as part of the Catholic United Financial Raffle, a fundraising program provided free of charge by sponsor Catholic United Financial since 2009. St. Lawrence is one of 85 schools in Minnesota and South Dakota that participated in 2023 and raised a combined total of $1,389,332 for Catholic education. The school exceeded its fundraising goal of $15,000. “To achieve this level of success for 10 straight years is a testimony to the dedication of Catholic school families and staff, and the communities that surround them,” said Michael Ahles, president and CEO of program sponsor Catholic United Financial.  “We’re honored that we could unite our 75,000-plus members of Catholic United with the students and staff of St. Lawrence  and the community of Milbank. Congratulations on an amazing program.”

The six-week selling period concluded on February 26. As the tickets were sold and money came in, families and staff counted their results, knowing  they would keep every dollar their school raised. Catholic United Financial provided all promotional materials, raffle tickets, and prizes for the program at no cost to each school.

On March 9, the Raffle officially wrapped up with a prize drawing ceremony broadcast live on the Catholic United Financial website. The prizes, valued at over $45,000, included a new 2023 Chevy Trax SUV, a dream vacation, grills, a Soft Tub© Spa, electronics, gift cards, and more. Catholic United also rewarded the hard work of the top selling students, Mike and Abe Loeschke, at St. Lawrence School with a Singing Machine© Karaoke system and the chance to win a scholarship worth up to $500.

Funds raised by participating schools like St. Lawrence School are used to enhance school programs and facilities, including funding field trips, building playgrounds, supplementing tuition costs and providing new education technology.

Video, photos, and a list of prizewinners and results are available at: www.catholicunitedfinancial.org/raffle