Appreciation Winners’ Stories – 2025
H. Baker – $75,000 winner
Green Valley resident, Mr. Baker is this year’s lucky top Appreciation Drawing winner of the $75,000 cash prize. He and his wife have entered the TMC Mega Raffle for a few years and it was the first time they’ve won a prize. “I really think it is such a good cause and valuable to support our healthcare and hospitals. Guess my 1 and 20 odds finally hit!” he said. He went on to say, “It feels like I won the Super Bowl and now get to go to Disneyland.” As the news began sinking in, the 79-year-old, active retiree shared that he’s now thinking about taking a bucket list trip to Northern Europe for his birthday and doing something for his kids and grandkids.
S. Tawney – $10,000
Mr. Tawney is a Tucson resident that said, “I’ve participated in the TMC Mega Raffle for the last 8 to 9 years because it is a good cause and the odds are good. It’s nice because it supports the community.” After learning that he was one of this year’s $10,000 cash winners, and getting over his initial shock, he knew he wanted to use his windfall to buy a special gift for his wife.
R. Gdovin – $10,000
Mr. Gdovin and his wife started participating in the TMC Mega Raffle in honor of their niece who lost her battle with cancer. “The prizes are wonderful and it’s a way for us to help people and help the hospital. We love that Tucson is a giving community.” His wife of 38 years is a retired nurse that says, “TMC is the safest hospital to have surgery.” The couple is thrilled that they won $10,000 and now plan to celebrate by taking a cruise that they always wanted to.
L. Borunda – $10,000
Ms. Borunda, a pre-school teacher for special needs students was shocked to get the news that she was one of this year’s $10,000 Appreciation winners. Every year she calls her daughter to remind her to enter. This year her daughter reminded her – and she is very glad she did. She and her husband moved to Tucson from New Mexico in 2010 when her daughter gave birth to twin boys. “They were born early weighing only four pounds and received care at TMC in the NICU.” Again, TMC was there when Ms. Borunda ended up in the TMC ED with pneumonia. “They brought me back to life.” With her prize, she’s thinking about taking a vacation with her husband.
V. Cook – $10,000
Ms. Cook heard about the TMC Mega Raffle from a friend that participated, and she was inspired. She’s entered every year since. Thrilled to get the news that she is one of this year’s $10,000 Appreciation winners, she says she plans to use the money to pay some bills, buy herself some new prescription sunglasses that she needs and put some money in savings.
K. Beach – $10,000
Mr. Beach was up on a ladder at work when Kathy called with the news that he was a $10,000 Appreciation winner. Thankfully, he didn’t fall, but he said he was having a hard time concentrating after he got the call. He said he purchased a 3-pack and tickets for the 50/50 Jackpot as a Valentine’s gift for his wife. He was planning to give it to her on Valentine’s Day – but the gift came early. The couple are now planning a trip to Costa Rica.
K. Moritz – $10,000
Tucson native K. Moritz couldn’t believe the news when Kathy called to tell her she was a $10,000 Appreciation winner. The newlywed was thrilled to share the news with her husband and is excited to tell her sons (that were born at TMC) that she will be using the prize money to take the family on a fun vacation. Her advice to others that may be considering entering, “It’s such a good cause and you can’t win if you don’t enter.
H. Maltby – $10,000
Maltby is a registered nurse that spent her career working in public health and education. Beginning in 2021 she and her husband started visiting Tucson to flee the cold winters in the east, visit family and enjoy the sunshine. When she saw an ad for the TMC Mega Raffle and learned that the raffle supported TMC Health she purchased a ticket. “I loved the cause!” Since then, she’s entered every year. In spring 2024 the couple, now retired, made Green Valley their home. When she learned she was a $10,000 Appreciation winner, her first thought was, “You’ve got to be kidding!” She couldn’t believe it. If anyone is thinking about purchasing tickets – she says, “Do it!”
J. Kennedy – $10,000
When J. Kennedy’s neighbor told her that his daughter was a TMC Mega Raffle Grand Prize winner a few years ago, she was inspired to enter. Thirty years ago, her daughter – only three years old at the time – was bitten by a rattle snake and airlifted to TMC for care. “They were so kind and wonderful to us – I love TMC.” Ms. Kennedy was an elementary school teacher that now teaches teachers, and she has an ice cream truck business that keeps her connected to kids. She said that winning $10,000 in the Appreciation drawing will help her pay for major dental work she needs.
P. Kelly – $10,000
Kelly said that she and her family have been entering the TMC Mega Raffle for the past seven years. She always purchases through the call center and tells the woman, “Sell me a winner!” She won salt and pepper shakers one year and another year she won a baking set. Getting the call and hearing she’d won a $10,000 Appreciation prize was unbelievable and brought her to tears. In January, she lost her husband that received cared at TMC. “Angels are truly watching over.”