Mustang Winner Thought It Was A Prank; Lottery Raises More Than $55,000 For MURF, $10,000 For Children's Wish
Source: Doug Coxson, New Hamburg Independent
(Jul 12, 2006)

It's been more than a week since Dan Grant has been able to step outside without a grin across his face and shouts of congratulations coming from his friends and neighbors.

The St. Agatha family man is the lucky winner of the $38,000 Ford Mustang convertible given away in a fundraiser for Wilmot's Multi-Use Recreation Facility July 1.

Grant purchased a single ticket after seeing the Mustang on display at the Petersburg gas station.

Organizers were unable to reach him following the draw over the long weekend but managed to track him down when the family returned from their cottage last week.

"I just couldn't believe it," Grant said. "I thought it was a prank call."

Grant's wife Shannon, a big fan of Mustangs, said the couple will keep the car and put it in five-month-old daughter Brooke's name.

"We're going to store it away," Dan said. " This will be a collector some day."

The Win A Legend Support A Dream Mustang Lottery proved to be a huge success over the last year, netting the MURF fundraising committee more than $55,000 in revenue, after expenses and a pledged donation to the Children's Wish Foundation.

In order to maximize ticket sales in centers outside of Wilmot Township, the committee made the decision to link its lottery with the Children's Wish Foundation with a maximum pledge of $5,000.

But due to the lottery's success, the committee decided to double its pledge to the agency.

"The Children's Wish connection played a big role in our sales so we felt as a committee we should increase the pledge," Vitello said. As a result, the committee will be presenting a check for $10,000 to Children's Wish.

The success of the lottery hinged on the guidance provided to the group through the New Dundee Optimist Club.

"With their expertise, it made things a lot smoother," Vitello said.

With $2.6 million established as the goal the community fundraising committee plans to reach, their work is about halfway finished.

Vitello said once people realize the MURF is underway, fundraising efforts will kick back into high gear.

The group won't have to wait long.

On Monday, facilities and recreation staff recommended Kieswetter Excavating Inc. to prepare the site and install the concrete foundation of the MURF building for the bid price of $1.6 million. Council was also expected to approve a recommendation to hire Schindler Elevator Corporation to supply and install one hydraulic elevator in the MURF at a bid price of $46,810.