By Irene Nelson

Executive Assistant/Event Coordinator

The Catholic Schools Raffle returns this winter to Pacelli Catholic Schools in Austin, giving you the opportunity to turn $5 into a brand new car or $20,000 in cash while supporting your local Catholic school.

Starting Jan. 11, students from Pacelli will join students from 90 other schools across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota in selling $5 tickets. Each ticket purchased gives ticket buyers the opportunity to win a 2019 Chevy TRAX (or $20,000 in cash), or other great prizes totaling $40,000 in value. Best of all, every penny of every ticket sold stays at Pacelli thanks to the raffle’s sole sponsor, Catholic United Financial. The St. Paul-based company provides all the prizes and promotion materials for the Raffle at no cost to the participating schools.

“Catholic United’s mission since our founding 140 years ago has included supporting Catholic education, and we couldn’t be happier or more proud to support our schools with the Catholic Schools Raffle,” explained Catholic United President Harald Borrmann. “Since the program started, we have invested nearly one million dollars in the Raffle because we understand how this unique fundraiser greatly benefits the students and their teachers.”

Now in its tenth year, the Catholic Schools Raffle has raised over $7 million for Catholic schools in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. This year, Catholic United is challenging the 90 participating schools to collectively raise $1 million during the six week selling period. To help reach this goal, Pacelli hopes to sell enough tickets to raise $13,000.

The money raised allows schools like Pacelli to provide tuition assistance, update technology systems, or to cover the cost of special learning opportunities like guest speakers and field trips.

Ticket sales begin Jan. 11 and runs through Feb. 24. Tickets are only available at participating schools. The Grand Prize drawing ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. (CST) on Tuesday, March 5, at the Catholic United Financial Home Office in St. Paul.  Raffle updates and a full list of participating schools can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CatholicSchoolsRaffle.