It’s a really BIG deal!
By Jillian Chandler
2024 marks North Idaho College (NIC) Foundation’s 31st annual Really BIG Raffle — and it’s a really big deal!
“The NIC Foundation is proud to invest in North Idaho College students, programs, services, and special projects,” shares Rayelle Anderson, Executive Director of the NIC Foundation. “The Really BIG Raffle is a key initiative of the NIC Foundation that, with every raffle ticket sold, provides our community with the chance not only to win big but to directly impact the lives of deserving NIC students in their pursuit of a quality education and bright future.”
The Really BIG Raffle is the NIC Foundation’s largest annual public fundraiser, with all proceeds going to support student success and educational excellence through NIC.
Raffle tickets are already on sale for the 2024 raffle, priced $150 each, with just 5,000 tickets to be sold. Tickets can be purchased at the following community outlets, with cash or check payment options: Super 1 Foods in Kootenai county and Sandpoint, Post Falls Yokes Fresh Market, and Watson’s Market in Osburn. The NIC Workforce Training Center in Post Falls and the NIC Foundation office in Coeur d’Alene are also selling tickets via cash, check or credit card. Idaho residents also have the option to order tickets online at NIC.edu/rbr or by phone by calling 208.769.3271.
“Tickets sell out every year,” reminds Kaelynn, Fundraising and Events Coordinator of the NIC Foundation, “So don’t wait to get your tickets.”
The grand prize, a brand-new house, is valued at approximately $563,000! The ranch-style home boasts 2,338 square feet of space featuring a spacious living area with cozy gas fireplace, impressive vaulted ceilings, large chef’s kitchen with quartz countertops, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, large covered patio, extended front porch and a two-car garage. Ideally situated in Coeur d’Alene, the home is close to schools, shopping, and the lake, and has great views of area mountains.
“This house will be sure to make someone’s homeownership dream come true,” Kaelynn smiles.
North Idaho College is very proud of its history of providing construction-related education and training. From 1979 to 2022, NIC Carpentry students participated in the construction of one home each year as the core learning laboratory of their instructional program. In response to changing industry needs, the grand prize house continues to serve as a learning laboratory for NIC’s construction-related programs.
This year’s raffle is sponsored in part by Title sponsors Greenstone Homes and Idaho Forest Group, as well as numerous other sponsors. (A full list of sponsors can be found at NIC.edu/rbr/sponsors.)
The house build, from start to finish, takes approximately eight months. Those interested in seeing construction photos as the home build progresses are invited to subscribe to NIC Foundation’s Raffle Insider monthly e-newsletter.
In addition to the grand prize, ticket holders have the chance to win a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport (valued at over $32,000), a $2,000 home furnishings gift card, and a Traeger smoker/meat package (valued at $1,500). Those who purchase tickets by April 30 will also be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of two $1,000 Costco gift card Early Bird prizes.
The live virtual drawing will be held at 7pm PST on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, and interested viewers will be able to tune in by accessing a link that will be posted on NIC’s website the day of the event. Audited tickets are placed in a drawing bin and winners are manually selected by a third-party auditor from a certified accounting firm. Winners will be phoned immediately after the event. Names of winners will also be listed on the website and on a recording at 208.769.3271 after the drawing.
The NIC Foundation, Inc. is an independent, 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors comprised of civic-minded community leaders. Through contributions and prudent stewardship, the NIC Foundation provided North Idaho College over $1.2 million through 1,007 student scholarship awards and over $420,000 for program enrichment at North Idaho College for academic year 2022-2023.