Early Bird Prize Winners’ Stories – 2017

Two Tucson Couples Win Big in Early Bird Draw

Early Bird Prize #1 Winner – Robert Kielsa

Robert and his wife, Phyllis, retired in Tucson from Minnesota five years ago and have been purchasing tickets for the TMC Mega Raffle since 2014. This year Robert asked his wife if they should enter again and she said she thought it was a good idea. In 2015, they were excited when they won a set of silverware. But when they learned they were this year’s Early Bird winner of the 2017 Toyota 4Runner, a vacation for two to the Greek islands, plus $16,000, it was like winning the gold. The couple believe the Mega Raffle is great for the community and a fun way to show support for TMC. They never took a honeymoon, so this will finally be their chance.

Click play below to hear Robert share his winner’s story on KHIT Radio 107.5 FM:

 

Click play below to hear Robert on KIIM Radio 99.5 FM:

 

Early Bird Prize #2 Winner – Matthew Barnes

First-time winner Matthew and his wife, Sarah, were shocked to learn they were one of this year’s two Early Bird prize winners. It was the first time they’ve entered the TMC Mega Raffle, deciding to purchase a 3-pack when they heard their friends were entering. Matthew is a native of Tucson and was born at TMC.  He and his wife will soon be new parents to their first child who will also be born at TMC.  Matthew is an emergency room nurse at St. Joseph’s and Sarah works in ICU as a nurse at TMC. Working in healthcare and supporting TMC by entering the Mega Raffle is good for the entire community he explained, “We couldn’t do what we do at St. Joseph’s for the community without the valuable healthcare services TMC provides and vice versa.” In this year of firsts for the Barnes, this big win of a vacation to the French Polynesian islands, a new Toyota Avalon and $15,500 is icing on the cake for these soon-to-be parents.