The 2014 Hospitals’ Lottery Home official launch took place this past Friday.
The custom dream home was built by Abbey Master Builders at 78 Voisin Close.
Each year the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation asks a community builder to partner with them in creating a lottery home to raise money for various units throughout their facility.
This year’s 2014 Lottery campaign will be benefitting three units: neonatal intensive care, labour & delivery and gastroenterology.
The Red Deer Regional Health Foundation explained that they continue to provide the lottery so that they may remain “Dedicated to enhancing healthcare excellence in Central Alberta by raising funds to provide state-of-the-art medical equipment and services.”
Kerry Bales, chief zone officer with Alberta Health Services, explained that the money raised from the lottery will go towards the purchase of specialized equipment in the endoscopy labs that will allow the removal of gall stones right in the unit which will mean less wait times for patients.
“The purchase of 23 advanced heart rate monitors for the neonatal care unit will help with the needs of the increasing numbers of premature babies being born at the hospital,” said Bales.
“On the obstetrical unit the purchase of eight new specialized lights will standardize the equipment in the labour and delivery rooms and reduce shadows and other complications surgeons and staff must deal with while over all improving the quality of service.”
This year marks the 16th year of the Hospitals’ Lottery, as well as the largest prize package ever made available through the lottery.
This year’s dream home is also the highest priced home raffled to date with a price tag marked at $700,000.
The home features an executive kitchen, open concept great room, a custom designed wine room, covered front veranda, a hotel inspired master ensuite with a freestanding soaker tub and temperature controlled heater floors.
“When they [Hospitals’ Lottery] approached us we jumped at the chance because it is such a worthwhile cause,” said Art Anastasi, president of Abbey Master Builders.
“Dollars spent here go towards medical equipment that is greatly needed.”
The Foundation decided this year to make more tickets available within the lottery to meet demands as they have sold out of tickets for the past few years.
Graham Moore, chairman of the Hospitals’ Lottery, explained last year’s lottery participants were asked to answer a few questions to determine what could be improved to keep them buying.
He received the answer of ‘more cash’ so this year’s Hospitals’ Lottery will be upping the early bird cash prize to $50,000 and adding a 2014 Dodge Dart GT.
The lottery features more than 442 prizes to be won valued at over a million dollars including Maple Leaf Diamond earrings, an exquisite bedroom package, cash, electronics and three more brand new 2014 vehicles.
This will also be the first year the lottery has offered the new Hospitals’ Mega Bucks 50 raffle, which is a cash prize lottery.
Purchasers have the opportunity to buy tickets to win half of up to $200,000 in an increasing jackpot with a minimum payout of $80,000.
“As of today we are about 40% sold out thanks to our amazing staff and volunteers,” said Moore. “People are always sad when they don’t get in and we hope to be sold out by the Early Bird date, so hopefully more people are attracted again this year.”
Tickets for the Lottery are being sold at $25 each, five for $100, or $15 for $250 and can be purchased by calling 403-340-1878 or toll-free at 1-877-808-9005.
To order online or for more details visit www.hospitalslottery.com.
Mega Bucks tickets are available at the same phone numbers and web site, selling at $10 each, 10 for $25, or 25 for $50.
The dream home is open to the public 1-5 p.m. daily and 1-8 p.m. on Thursdays.
Early bird ticket purchasing deadline is 11 p.m. on June 8th, with final ticket sales cut off at 11 p.m. on June 22nd.
jswan@reddeerexpress.com
