Cheque being accepted by the Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Education Foundation (Photo: Emily Keller)

By Emily Keller

swan city rotary

Swan City Rotary Club’s Cars for Christmas Lottery raises over $360,000

Mar 5, 2020 | 5:30 AM

The money raised from the Swan City Rotary Club’s 2019 Cars for Christmas Lottery was given to community groups and partners on Wednesday, March 4.

Dave Cook, Chair of the Swan City Rotary Club Lottery Committee, says $105,000 was given to their partner groups.

“Overall, we also issued a big cheque of $367,000, which is the proceeds from the lottery, which will go to both our partners as well as over fifty different organizations here in Grande Prairie, and also many projects that the Swan City Rotary Club is involved with.”

Groups that received money include Spinal Cord Injury Alberta, the Suicide Prevention Resource Centre, Grande Prairie Minor Baseball, the Benzanson School Booster Club, the Grande Prairie Rotary After Five Club, Grande Prairie & District Catholic Schools Education Foundation, Rotaract, and Grande Prairie Gymnastics.

The Bezanson School Booster Club, and Rotary After Five Club both got $5,000, and the Rotaract received $3,500.

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Every group mentioned received $10,000, with the exception of the Grande Prairie Gymnastics, who were given $55,319.

Two previous prize winners also donated back their prizes, including a $1000 gas card and a $300 Prairie Mall gift card. The Meals on Wheels program in the City received the gas card, and the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre received the Prairie Mall gift card.

Cook says over the last 20 years of doing lotteries in the community, they have raised over $11 million through their lotteries.

“That’s money that is invested in this area and invested in some very worthwhile programs in the Grande Prairie area. That’s what makes this lottery very unique compared to many others that we compete with, (where) the money leaves this area. We spend the money here, as well as, we buy all of our prizes from local businesses.”