North Idaho College Foundation’s biggest fundraiser is under way By Jillian Chandler
Each year, since 1994, a unique fundraising event affords Idaho residents the chance to win a brand new home. And it’s as simple as purchasing a raffle ticket. North Idaho College (NIC) Foundation’s 30th annual Really BIG Raffle—the foundation’s largest annual public fundraiser—is now underway, and tickets will surely sell out like in previous years.
“The Really BIG Raffle is a fun event that community members look forward to participating in year after year,” shares Hannah Matchell, development specialist for the NIC Foundation. “The chance to win amazing prizes, while helping local students, really resonates across a broad spectrum of the community. The event has a very loyal community supporter base, and many participants have been purchasing tickets for decades.”
This year’s home is in the Coeur d’Alene Place Community, a location providing easy access to schools, shopping, and all the wonderful things there are to do in Coeur d’Alene. The home (which can be viewed online) is a 2,652-square-foot rancher with a large bonus room. The modern floor plan features vaulted ceilings, a gas fireplace, quartz countertops throughout, and a large covered back patio. The home’s value is estimated at $587,000. “This is definitely a house anyone would be thrilled to win,” affirms Hannah.
The home, from planning to completion, typically takes a little less than a year. As Hannah notes, community sponsors are key to the success of this fundraiser. For 2023, Greenstone Homes is the event’s title sponsor, providing a significant donation to the NIC Foundation for the fundraiser; Washington Trust Bank and Cole Concrete are major sponsors; and there are many additional sponsors that can be found on the website. In past years, the home served as a hands-on learning experience for students under the direction of the NIC Carpentry and Construction Technology Program instructor, and in collaboration with regional subcontractors. “This year has been a transition year for the program, as it is being retooled to better match industry needs,” states Hannah.
“The college is excited to be moving the program from the learning experience of building a home from the ground up to becoming a new Construction Management two-year transfer program that would have articulated curriculum that aligns directly with Boise State University and can also tie into other regional Construction Management programs.”
Raffle tickets are priced $150 each, and a maximum of 5,000 tickets will be sold. Idaho residents can reserve their tickets online at NIC.edu/rbr or by calling 208.769.3271. There are also several community outlets selling raffle tickets in person, including all North Idaho Super 1 Foods locations, Yoke’s Fresh Market in Post Falls, Stein’s Family Foods in Osburn, Buck Knives, NIC Foundation and NIC Workforce Training Center.
Tickets are on sale now and will be available until they sell out—the raffle sells out each and every year, so don’t wait to get yours.
Additional prizes include a new 2023 car, a $2,000 home furniture gift card, and a Traeger smoker/meat package.
“The North Idaho College Foundation would like to share a heartfelt thank you to all of the amazing supporters that have kept this fundraiser going for 30 years!” smiles Hannah.
Show your support to the North Idaho College Foundation, as all proceeds go to support student success and educational excellence throughout North Idaho College … and you could walk away with keys to a new home! The winning ticket will be drawn virtually, by a third-party auditor from a certified accounting firm, at 7pm on Wednesday, July 12.
The NIC Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. In 2021-22, NIC Foundation provided $1.2 million to the college for scholarship awards and over $260,000 in program enrichment.