A moving van is probably in Beverly Bowers’ future.
The Red Deer resident won the grand prize in the 31st annual Kinsmen Dream Home lottery drawn on New Year’s Eve.
The fully-furnished new home at 36 Clearview Dr. is worth $600,000.
JC Levenne, Dream Home prize and co-ordinator, said about 10,500 tickets out of 14,000 were sold. That’s about 55,000 less than last year.
Ticket sales dropped off this week, but the campaign is still considered a success with an estimated $250,000 raised which is pretty consistent with 2008, he said.
“All of that goes back to the community. That just shows that Red Deer is willing to come out and support us,” Levenne said.
Money raised goes to local charities and about $100,000 will be distributed right away to nine organizations.
They include the Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, Exelta Gymnastics Club, Red Deer Hospice Society, Red Deer Pond Hockey, Red Deer Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Youth and Volunteer Centre of Red Deer, and Canadian Red Cross.
Ground breaking in Sunnybrook for the 2010 Dream Home should begin in about two months.
Levenne said the 2010 home will be similar in quality to the 2,612-square-foot Clearview home which boasts a double garage, landscaped yard, hardwood flooring, stone countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms, a built-in flat screen TV above a brick fireplace, and much more.
“The trend has been to try to focus on the upgrades. Rather than having a ginormous house, it has all the frills and amenities.”
The 2009 Kinsmen Dream Home Lottery featured a total of 87 prizes valued over $700,000. Prize winners are listed at www.kinsmendreamhome.com
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com