Will YOU Be Saskatchewan’s Next MILLIONAIRE?
You could be Saskatchewan’s next millionaire when you support the 25th annual Children’s Wish Lottery in Saskatchewan.
The grand prize in the Children’s Wish Lottery is One Million dollars in cash. This marks the first year the Children’s Wish Lottery offers a cash prize and not a house.
“After all of our years of doing the home lottery, it was time to try something brand new that’s never been seen in Saskatchewan. People love the idea of choosing cash,” explains chapter director Gay Oldhaver.
There’s no house to sell, taxes to pay or rooms to redecorate. The winner simply gets the ultimate flexibility to indulge in their dreams. Retire early, live debt-free, share with loved ones or have the adventure of a lifetime.
The lottery is the prime fundraiser that allows the Children’s Wish Foundation of Saskatchewan to continue to grant wishes for children ages three to 17 facing lifethreatening illness.
“Because of the lottery and the support that we’ve received from the people of Saskatchewan, we’ve never denied an eligible child their wish,” Oldhaver says.
Nationally the organization has just granted their 20,000th wish. The Saskatchewan chapter is closing in on 1000. Last year was their busiest year yet for granting wishes with 70 wishes coming true for sick children in the province.
Children face a variety of illnesses. Some face chronic conditions, others face a long difficult journey with cancer or other life-altering sickness. Long days filled with appointments, tests, scans, needles and other medical interventions can seem never ending.
Having a wish to look forward to can provide hope, not just for the sick child, but the whole family.
Wishes generally come in three different types. The travel wish transports the child’s immediate family to a destination of their choice, such as Hawaii or Disneyland. Celebrity wishes fulfill a child’s dream of meeting a superstar. Last year the Children’s Wish Foundation was able to send Braden Nienaber and his family to meet his favourite NHL-er Braden Holtby of the Washington Capitals. He even got to do a ceremonial puck-drop before the game.
Item wishes can bring to life a child’s dream of a playhouse, horse or a camping trailer. One of the most popular wishes right now is the camping trailer. “Because being cooped up in hospital for treatments or traveling for treatments, they just want to spend time with their family. Those are always truly fun ones, because they’re about being together and having fun.”
Oldhaver is quick to point out wishes are granted for children from all over the province – from the far north to south, east and west. They’ve granted wishes for children in rural areas and urban.
While the lottery itself is celebrating 25 years, this year is extra special for the foundation nationally and provincially as the Children’s Wish Foundation celebrates 30 years of granting wishes.
That means many of the wish celebrities (children who’ve received wishes) are now adults “We’re trying to build in that generational feel. It’s more than just wish children now, they are adults now. They’re contributing members of society,” says Oldhaver. Many wish celebrities go on to become ambassadors and supporters of the Foundation.
In addition to the million dollar grand prize this year, there is $249,000 more in prizes boosters and cash you could take home. There are also three boosters you can add to your ticket. The first is the Vacation for Life at the Westin Ka-anapali Ocean Resort Villas in Lahaina, Hawaii, or $75,000 cash. One week every year in a sun-drenched paradise with an ocean-front suite. Booster number two is the Weekly Allowance of $200 every week for a year and the last booster is for the 50-50 WISH draw.
Early bird prizes include a choice of a 2015 RX350 or 2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country or $70,000 cash. The deadline for the early bird draw is August 21, 2014. If you’re waiting until fall to get your ticket, you’re going to be out of luck. Oldhaver says the lottery opted for an earlier deadline this year so you only have until August 28, 2014 to get in on the Million Dollar Lottery.
Grand prize tickets are $100 each or three for $250 or five for $375. To order your tickets visit the website at www.wishlottery.ca or call 1-800-661-WISH (9474).