St. John Vianney School raises $16,550 in just six weeks

To the Editor:

2022 brought another successful Catholic Schools Raffle at St. John Vianney Catholic School. Teachers, staff and the surrounding community of Fairmont united with students and their families to raise an outstanding total of $16,550 for the school. Since Jan. 14, students of St. John Vianney Catholic School have been selling $5 raffle tickets as part of the Catholic Schools Raffle, a fundraising program provided free of charge by sponsor Catholic United Financial since 2009. St. John Vianney Catholic School is one of 86 schools in Minnesota and South Dakota that were involved in 2022. Before that January start date, school leadership set an ambitious fundraising goal. Catholic United Financial provided all promotional materials, raffle tickets and prizes for the program at no cost. As the tickets were sold and money came in, families and staff counted their total. They were excited knowing that they keep every dollar their school raised. The six-week selling period concluded Feb. 27.

“Since we started this raffle in 2009, over $12.6 million has been raised for participating Catholic schools. We are incredibly proud that 100 percent of the total money raised has gone directly to the students, parents, faculty and administrators who have helped make this program such an unqualified success,” said Mike Ahles, president of Catholic United Financial.

On March 10, the raffle officially concluded with a prize drawing ceremony broadcasted live on the Catholic United Financial website. The prizes, valued at over $45,000, included a new 2022 Ford Escape SUV, a dream vacation, Traeger Grill and grill set, smart TVs and more. Catholic United also rewarded the hard work of the top selling student at St. John Vianney Catholic School with a Baby Yoda LEGO set prize and the chance at $500. St. John Vianney Catholic School contributed to a grand total of $1,419,287 for Catholic education.

Funds raised by participating schools, like St. John Vianney Catholic 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.

Sarah Striemer

principal, St. John Vianney School

Fairmont