Computer Love: Loyal Shopper Excited About Evening of Goodwill Raffle Prize

Spending a few extra bucks on raffle tickets recently paid off in a major way for loyal Goodwill shopper Mary Ann Pelton.

Pelton was the lucky winner in Goodwill's August 28 drawing for a Compaq Notebook 15.4” Widescreen Computer.

Since July 15, Goodwill of Central Arizona Retail team members have embraced the Evening of Goodwill store raffle – which supplements the money raised for the Barker Post-Secondary Scholarship Fund and the ecademie General Education Fund. Retail cashiers ask store customers to purchase raffle tickets in an effort to raise an additional $100,000 by October 14 in support of the Evening of Goodwill. The Evening of Goodwill, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3 from 5-10 PM at Los Cedros USA in north Scottsdale, is our organization's only annual fundraising event. The proceeds from the Evening of Goodwill will go toward education initiatives and post-secondary scholarships for at-risk youth and adults.

Pelton said she shops at least once per week at five Goodwill stores in the Valley and purchased her raffle tickets at all locations because she wanted to contribute to the organization.

"You never know if you're going to win, I just knew I was doing it for a good cause," said Pelton. "I think (the organization's Commitment) is the one thing that encourages me (to shop at Goodwill) more than anything, is that it's helping others and it helps us."

When she received the call about winning the laptop, Pelton said she was absolutely thrilled. Pelton said that her eight children and her grandchildren have been encouraging her to buy a computer so they can communicate with her more often.

Goodwill presented the Compaq Notebook prize to Pelton on Sept. 10 with her daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter right by her side.

"The best part about this prize is that I'll be able to e-mail my children and grandchildren," stated Pelton. "Not ever owning a computer, I'm really looking forward to learning and having my kids teach me how to use it."

Shoppers still have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets at any of the 42 Goodwill retail locations in central Arizona through Oct. 14. The cost for one ticket is $2 or $5 for three tickets. To date, Goodwill has collected more than $70K in much-needed donations from the community.

Goodwill is holding three more drawings with fantastic prizes including:

• September 30: Panasonic 32” LCD HD TV (tickets on sale from August 15–September 14)
• October 30: Sony PlayStation3 with Blu-Ray (tickets on sale from September 15 – October 14)
• October 30: Super Draw - one winner receives Compaq Notebook 15.4” Widescreen Computer, Panasonic 32” LCD HD TV and a Sony PlayStation3 with Blu-Ray (all raffle ticket buyers are eligible)!

For more information about the Evening of Goodwill, please visit eveningofgoodwillaz.org.

Pictured: Jackie Halleen, Vice President of Retail Operations, presents a brand new Compaq Notebook 15.4” Widescreen Computer to Goodwill shopper Mary Ann Pelton on Sept. 10. Pelton won the laptop in an August 28 raffle drawing that supports the Evening of Goodwill, our organization's only annual fundraising event.