The Sarnia Legion Branch 62 hosted its weekly Catch The Ace draw Thursday, drawing a large crowd for the popular fundraising event that invites residents for a night of excitement, camaraderie, and the chance to win significant cash prizes.
Catch The Ace, a progressive raffle lottery, involves a deck of cards, each placed in individual envelopes and numbered.
Participants purchase tickets, and each week, one ticket is drawn. The winner of the ticket selects a numbered envelope, hoping to find the ace of spades. If the Ace is not drawn, the jackpot rolls over to the next week, progressively increasing in value until the ace of spades is finally caught.
All proceeds from ticket sales are invested back into the Legion and various community initiatives and programs.
The draw on Thursday was accompanied by a lively atmosphere, enhanced by pre-event karaoke and trivia competitions that engaged and entertained the crowd. The enticing aroma of hot dogs, German sausages, and Giresi’s pizza added to the festive mood, while the full bar kept the bartenders busy throughout the night.
As the evening progressed, the dedicated volunteers, particularly the ladies in charge of counting money and distributing tickets, worked tirelessly to manage the overwhelming demand.
Lines extended out the door as eager participants awaited their chance to purchase tickets, which are sold exclusively on the day of the draw. A total of 16,763 tickets were sold between 12 noon and 7:30 p.m. By the time ticket sales closed for the evening, the progressive pot was up to $144, 264.
Next week’s progressive pot has been accumulating for an impressive 46 weeks, with the jackpot for the upcoming July 18 draw expected to surpass a staggering $180,000.
The allure of such a substantial prize continues to drive ticket sales and community interest.
The winner of the daily pot, Geoff Abraham, was not present to collect his winnings but won a prize of $22,384.
The Legion will host Catch The Ace again on July 18, 2024, with ticket sales starting at noon.