Final Draw Prize Winners’ Stories – 2019
Grand Prize #1 Winner – Debra Fitzgerald
When Debra got the call from Kathy telling her she was the 2019 Grand Prize #1 winner, the A.F. Sterling home or $625,000, she could not stop crying. Debra said she participates in the TMC Mega Raffle every year and one year she won a nice watch, but this was beyond her imagination. She works as a home healthcare nurse and is a mother to three grown children. She is currently on disability with a shoulder injury and is scheduled for surgery at TMC. “Winning will really relieve the stress with the surgery.” She is now thinking about paying off bills, investing in retirement and possibly taking a vacation to Ireland.
Grand Prize #2 Winner – Shelley Kroska
Shelley has participated in the TMC Mega Raffle every year for the past five years and said she never even won a toaster. She was excited and surprised to learn she was this year’s Grand Prize #2 winner, the Audi A7 or $150,000. While she has never been a patient at TMC, one of her children and her step daughter both received care and she has always felt the Mega Raffle was a great community cause. “Even if you don’t win, it feels good to participate. And if you get the call, it really is the call of a lifetime.” Shelley works as a legal administrator for the county and hopes to use some of her winnings to pay off student loans and invest in a retirement account.
50/50 Add-on Jackpot Winner – Dana Pulsifer
Dana, 61, is this year’s 50/50 jackpot winner and he will be splitting the record setting $728,440 with TMC. He said he buys tickets every year to help support the hospital and for the opportunity to win. The first year he won an outdoor smoker. As this year’s jackpot winner, he said the news is still sinking in. Dana’s not sure yet what he will do with his winnings, but he hopes to retire a little earlier than he originally planned.
2019 Silverado Custom Trailboss 4×4 Crew Cab + $14,000 Cash Winner – Paula Keith
Paula Keith of Sierra Vista was thrilled to be the winner of a 2019 Silverado Custom Trailboss 4X4 Crew Cab plus $14,000 cash. Paula and her husband have participated in the TMC Mega Raffle every year for the last five years. When Paula first got the call she was so overwhelmed with excitement and she thought she won a box of Omaha Steaks. Paula was more shocked to learn that she actually won a brand new Silverado truck. Paula said, “My whole office is so envious of my new truck that they can’t wait to buy their own tickets next year.”
2019 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport + $7,500 Cash Winner – Roscoe Ewalt
Roscoe Ewalt buys a ticket for the TMC Mega Raffle every year to support Tucson Medical Center. This year Roscoe is not only a first-time winner, he is the winner of the 2019 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport plus $7,500 cash. He was thrilled when he got the call and can’t wait to drive around in his new car. Roscoe and his wife live in Sahuarita, Arizona and retired here from Minnesota 21 years ago. Roscoe said, “I’ve been buying tickets since the beginning because it’s a good cause and it supports the hospital.”
2019 Ford Escape SE + $8,000 Cash Winner – Darnell Ghidotti
Darnell Ghidotti of Show Low was shocked when she found out she was the winner of a brand new 2019 Ford Escape SE plus $8,000 cash. Darnell has lived on and off between Arizona and Utah since 1980. Darnell said, “When I got the call I was so thrilled I yelled, I never win anything.” Darnell entered for the first time last year with her sister but didn’t win anything. She has received care at TMC in the past and thought it was a great opportunity to support a good cause.