Celebrations are taking place across the province today following the announcement of the 2016 STARS Lottery Saskatchewan winners.

The fifth annual lottery was the most successful to date in terms of revenue generated, and organizers are grateful to supporters for helping the fundraiser do so well, despite recent economic constraints in the province.

“The people of Saskatchewan pulled through when we needed them most, purchasing thousands of tickets in the final hours to get us to 99.7% sold,” said Rod Gantefoer, special advisor to the CEO at STARS. “We are both thrilled and deeply moved by their steadfast support.”

The 2016 lottery offered 2,019 prizes worth more than $4 million retail and will net an estimated $2.2 million for the non-profit. Gantefoer said this represents approximately 20 per cent of the funds STARS needs to raise every year to operate its Saskatoon and Regina bases. “The lottery is our largest annual fundraiser and is critical to the operation of our service for the people of the province,” said Gantefoer.

STARS officials awarded two grand prize showhomes and announced the winners of some of the highest valued prizes earlier today at the Regina area showhome. Bernadette Ziegler said her win of the $1.5 million Saskatoon area showhome will change her life and hopefully give her husband an opportunity to cut back on his workload. The Regina resident said she’s supported STARS and other charity lotteries for years. “You never expect to win the big prize, so this was a bit of a shock.”

Estevan’s Jennifer Kersey, winner of the $1.5 million Regina area showhome, is a long-time STARS lottery supporter. But she nearly didn’t purchase a ticket this year, due to the downturn in the oil sector, in which she and her husband work. “I was laid off—it’s been a hard year for a lot of people,” said the mother of two young children. “But we still bought a ticket because STARS is such a great cause, and I’m obviously happy we did!”

Kersey said STARS provides a much needed service to the people of this province. “We’re really lucky to have STARS in Saskatchewan,” she said.

The ever popular Lucky STARS 50/50 ran again this year in conjunction with the lottery and landed Darlene May, of Kindersley, with a cash prize of $775,500. May said she has no immediate big spending plans for her newfound wealth, but will use some of her winnings to help out her family.

“This is awesome,” she said. “I bought my ticket to support this great cause. Winning was a big bonus!”

May’s son lives with severe injuries following a serious accident he suffered nearly two decades ago, and she wonders how his outcome may have been improved had STARS been flying in the province at the time. “The faster you get people to hospital, the better their chances of a positive outcome,” she said.

Other prizes and winners drawn today included:

• 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab SLE 4WD – Colleen Herperger, Regina
• 2016 Audi Q3 2.0 TFSI Progressiv – Maureen Legault & Sons, Regina
• 2016 Ford Escape Titanium 4×4 – Bruce Grzebinski, Regina
• 2016 Chevy Cruze LT – Zhenting San, Tisdale
• 2016 Jeep Renegade Sport – Lynsi & John Macknak, Cupar
• 2016 Ski-Doo Renegade Adrenaline 800R ETE – Claudette & Frank Jezowski, Lloydminster, SK
• $10,000 Cash – Edward Lozowchuk, Saskatoon
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Orlando, Florida, 8-Night Vacation Pkg. – Grace Lieb, Regina

STARS president and CEO, Andrea Robertson, was in attendance to make some of the final draws. “One of the best parts of our jobs is calling up the winners and telling them they’ve won a prize,” she said.

Robertson said STARS is able to remain in Saskatchewan skies only through public support, which has been reaffirmed by the success of the 2016 lottery.

“Every ticket purchased has helped ensure we can be there for the next patient who needs us,” she said. “From all of us at STARS: thank you, Saskatchewan!”

For general information about the STARS Lottery Saskatchewan and for a complete list of winners, which will be posted by August 15, 2016, visit starslotterysaskatchewan.ca

Lottery License #LR15-0104 / LUCKY STARS 50/50 License #LR15-0105

About STARS

STARS is a charitable, non-profit helicopter air ambulance organization that provides time, hope and life-saving support to critically ill and injured patients. Our doctors, nurses, paramedics and pilots work with a team of dedicated support staff and community partners to save lives through rapid and specialized emergency medical care and transportation. STARS operates out of six bases across western Canada, where it has carried out more than 33,000 missions in its thirty year history. STARS has flown more than 3,300 missions to 500 communities across Saskatchewan since establishing bases in Regina and Saskatoon in 2012.