By Jean McDermott

Pacelli Superintendent

The students, parents, teachers and staff of Pacelli Catholic School extend a message of gratitude to the Austin community for helping them achieve fundraising success through the 2020 Catholic Schools Raffle program. The school was able to raise $13,555  through the program in ticket sales and donations.

From Jan. 17 to March 1, students at Pacelli sold raffle tickets at $5 each to raise funds for their school. Costs to run the raffle are provided by sole sponsor Catholic United Financial so every dollar raised by ticket sales stays with this school. The fundraiser came to an official close on March 12 with the prize drawing ceremony, during which winners of $40,000 in prizes, from gift cards and vacations to a brand new Buick Encore SUV, were announced by guest emcees Super Bowl Champion Matt Birk and Miss Minnesota 2019 Kathryn Kueppers.

When Pacelli’s total is added together with the other 88 participating schools in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, the 2020 Catholic Schools Raffle raised more than $1.3 million — a new annual record for the program —  and a cumulative total of $9.8 million since the program began in 2009.

“All the credit goes to students, families and parish and school staff, and the wonderful communities that support them,” said Harald Borrmann, president of Catholic United Financial. “It is an honor for us to show our unconditional support of Catholic education through this program year after year.”

Based in St. Paul, raffle sponsor Catholic United Financial provides all the prizes and promotion materials for the Raffle, resulting in 100 percent profit for the schools.

Student and class winners at Pacelli Catholic School are as follows: Individual Highest Sales: Colt Orum, 3rd Grade, Olym Kick Scooter; Luke Weaver, 10th Grade, $75 gift card; Kylee Christopherson, 11th Grade, $25 gift card; Abby Christopherson, 9th Grade, $15 gift card, Annabell Stump, Kindergarten, $10 gift card.  Met Class Goal/Super Hero Day: Grades Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 10th, and 11th; Highest Class Per Student Sales/Pizza Party; Ms. Tomlin’s 3rd Grade Class.

For more information on Pacelli visit www.pacellischools.org. For more information about the Raffle, plus photos and video, visit www.catholicunitedfinancial.org/raffle/media. Raffle updates can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CatholicSchoolsRaffle.

About Catholic United Financial

Catholic United Financial is one of the largest fraternal life insurance associations in the Upper Midwest, serving more than 75,000 members in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Catholic United offers life insurance, annuities, and retirement savings products to its members while providing fraternal benefits for Catholic parishes, schools and religious education.