NIC Foundation awards $420,000 Really BIG Raffle house and other prizes

NIC Development/Foundation team members join President Rick MacLennan and Theresa MacLennan, Foundation Board President Steve Masterson, independent auditor Ashlee Lent from Moss Adams, and NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson to cheer at the conclusion of another successful NIC Foundation Really BIG Raffle fundraiser. 

Richard Straw won the grand prize Wednesday in the North Idaho College Foundation’s Really BIG Raffle—a newly constructed home appraised at $420,000.

The winning ticket for the three-bedroom, 2,078-square-foot house, located in Coeur d’Alene, was pulled during a drawing that was streamed live online. Each year the North Idaho College Foundation partners with the NIC Carpentry and Construction Technology Program to construct a new home for the fundraiser’s grand prize that also serves as a learning lab for students. This year’s Really BIG Raffle was supported by title sponsors Greenstone Homes, Builders FirstSource, Idaho Forest Group and LG Hausys. Over 20 additional sponsors collaborated to make this another successful fundraiser in support of student and program needs at North Idaho College.  

“The continued success of the raffle is a direct result of the positive collaboration between the community, North Idaho College, and the NIC Foundation. Tickets sold out for the 28th consecutive year, and we had the earliest sell out on record. We are truly grateful to each and every supporter for their investment.” said Rayelle Anderson, executive director of the NIC Foundation.

Over $457,000 in prizes was awarded Wednesday evening, including the new house built by the NIC Carpentry and Construction Technology Program students and instructor in partnership with regional licensed subcontractors.

This year’s winners are:

Grand prize $420,000 house—Richard Straw

First place $32,000 Toyota RAV-4—Terri Goedde

Second place $2,000 Runge Home Furnishings Gift Card—Terzia Plummer

Third place Traeger Pro 780 Smoker and Meat Package—Tabatha Turnbull

All ticket holders purchased their tickets by the April 30 early bird deadline and also qualified to win the early bird prizes –  two Costco gift cards valued at $1,000 each. The winners of the gift cards are Jennifer Davis and Milagros Faust.

“The proceeds of this fundraiser provide vital resources to fund the hands-on laboratory for the NIC Carpentry and Construction Technology students and to enhance support for student success and educational excellence collegewide,” Anderson said.

The 29^th annual Really BIG Raffle is scheduled for July 13, 2022, and the grand prize house will be located in Greenstone’s North Place Community in Post Falls, Idaho. Idaho residents can reserve their ticket online at www.nic.edu/rbr.

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