SOMO News

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6XqDLbCrws]

Congratulations to our 2016 Drive it Home Raffle winner, John Owen of the St. Louis Metro Area! John purchased one ticket from staff member Jennifer Krumm at a walk in Old St. Charles. John has a disability and understand the impact that living with challenges holds. He and his wife, Karen are professional clowns. They have been to Special Olympics area games in the past and create balloon animals and do face painting. They have also been foster parents. John purchased the ticket because he dreams of having a new truck. They currently drive a 2003 Toyota Tundra. Winning Ticket Number: 043560

John was selected at the Tiger Tailgate, sponsored by Zimmer Communications Group, prior to the Mizzou vs. Arkansas football game on Friday, Nov. 25. Each of the eight finalists selected a car key in a random order, only one of which would be the correct key to open the door. John was the final person to select a key, so after watching the seven finalists’ keys fail to open the door, he knew that he would select the winning key. John was extremely excited to win the truck, and says he has never owned a new car before and plans on driving this truck until it can’t drive anymore!

Each finalist received $500. They are:

Southwest Area: Janet L. Johnson: Janet purchased 5 tickets from Phil Cook. She enjoys attending Area Spring Games, watching our athletes compete and the joy that they share with everyone. She especially enjoys when one of our athletes sings the National Anthem. She works with some of our athletes when they participate in adaptive P.E. classes and her husband officiates at some of our basketball competitions. She is thankful for the many opportunities she and her family have to connect to our athletes. She shared that one of their vehicles needs repairs that exceeds the value of the vehicle, so they are starting to search for a new one. If she one the truck, it would certainly help. Winning Ticket Number: 005895

KC Metro Area: Molly Bachand: Molly lives in North Carolina and purchased 4 tickets from her sister Sarah Bachand. She is the Equipment Director at Wake Forest for men’s and women’s basketball. She loves hearing about how inspiring the Special Olympics athletes are from her sister. She hopes to be able to volunteer at an event when she is back home for a visit! She is excited to be one of our finalists and shared that she plans to drive doughnuts in a field to celebrate if she wins the truck! Winning Ticket Number: 078550

Southeast Area: Paul Brewer: Paul purchased one ticket during the SEMO District Fair. Paul’s mom worked in the Special Education field at Texas State School as a nurse. He spent time with the students during the summer. He shared that he seems to know more and more people with intellectual disabilities and is happy to support our athletes. Paul shared that he had to sell his F-150 truck about a year ago and he misses it. He and his four boys will definitely enjoy the new truck if he wins. Winning Ticket Number: 115257

North Area: Maria Schoepke: Maria purchased her tickets from the parent of a Special Olympic athlete. Leah Shoemaker is the athlete. Maria works for the Health department and lives in St. Joe. She enjoys the area and is thankful for the opportunities we provide to athletes like Leah, who participates in several sports. Maria and her husband currently have a mini-van. She would really like a truck because they are useful for transporting things. If she is a winner, she is going to keep the truck and let her husband drive the mini-van. Winning Ticket Number: 083978

STL Metro Area: Kathleen Carapella: Kathleen purchased one ticket from Mary Wheeler at the Wentzville Flea Market. Her husband’s aunt has an intellectual disability and she used to participate in Special Olympics. When Kathleen was in high school she volunteered as a basketball coach and participated in basketball at the State Games in Fort Leonard Wood. Kathleen shared that the current truck they have is 13 years old and it would be great to have a new one! Winning Ticket Number: 053033

Central Area: Jason Crane: Jason purchased 2 tickets from a member of the Knights of Columbus, Wendell Quick. Jason works with Wendell at Continental Casting. He is a veteran who enjoys doing for others and giving to charity. While he doesn’t have a connection to Special Olympics he believes in our mission and is thankful for the work that we do to support individuals with disabilities. Jason is confident that most of our athletes can run faster than he can. Jason has never owned a new vehicle before and is not sure what he will do with a new truck, if he is the winner. Winning Ticket Number: 049706

The Drive It Home Raffle is a signature event of Special Olympics Missouri. We are honored to work with our statewide partners to make this event a success: Missouri Automobile Dealers Association, Shop ‘n Save and Law Enforcement Torch Run. Everyone can sell raffle tickets: law enforcement, athletes, coaches, family members, constituents, board members, auto dealers, etc., with several sales incentives available. Special thanks to Missouri Automobile Dealers Association for donating the F-150 truck that is the Grand Prize for this year’s raffle. Proceeds benefit SOMO’s 15,000 athletes who participate in sports year-round across the state.