​Kincardine Legion ends Catch the Ace, switches to 50/50 draw with hospital foundation

The Kincardine Legion is ending its Catch the Ace progressive lottery, in favour of a 50/50 draw with the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation, in support of the Kincardine Hospital redevelopment project.

The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon at the Legion.

President Teri Leslie said Catch the Ace began eight years ago as a local lottery with paper tickets purchased at locations in the Town of Kincardine and at the Legion bar. It was proposed by Legion member Laura Haight and was a great success, raising money for the Legion and local charities.

Three years ago, the Legion joined forces with the Tiverton Lions and Huron Shores Hospice and switched to a provincial lottery, allowing participants to purchase tickets on-line as well as in person.

During that time, Catch the Ace has presented $708,700 to the lottery winners, with the highest one being $202,730.50.

The Legion has also made the following donations over the past three years:
 

• Kincardine Food Bank, $31,000
• Kincardine Lions All-Wheel Park, $31,000
• Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey, $31,000
• Kincardine Football Association, $20,000
• Drop-in at the Bridge, $20,000
• Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, $16,000
• Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation, $30,000

Legion members presented the $30,000 cheque to members of the hospital foundation, Wednesday afternoon, and Leslie said the Legion is proud to partner with the foundation on a new charitable lottery, Kin Cares 50/50, whose mission is to strengthen local health care through collective action.



Members of the Kincardine Legion present a donation of $30,000 to the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation, Wednesday afternoon

"We expect to start selling tickets for the 50/50 draw by mid-March or early April," said Leslie. "You can buy tickets on the website (kincares5050.ca) or in person at the Legion bar, and a draw will be held once a month on the last day of the month, here at the Legion. There will also be Early Bird draws throughout the month."

In addition, the Legion plans to attend local events, such as the Kincardine Scottish Festival, and people can make mobile purchases of the 50/50 tickets.

"We have a number of things to work out yet," said Leslie, "but we want to get this done quickly in support of the hospital capital campaign."

Graham Mahood, a director with the hospital foundation, thanked the Legion for the generous donation and for its leadership in the 50/50 draw.

"We need the support of the entire community to raise the $18-million for the hospital expansion," he said. "The Legion is devoted to the welfare of veterans and their families, and the Legion membership, and part of that is making sure they have quality health care and a good hospital."



Graham Mahood (centre, holding microphone) and president Becky Fair (right) of the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation join Kincardine Legion president Teri Leslie (left) in announcing the new Kin Cares 50/50 lottery



Kincardine Legion president Teri Leslie (left) and Becky Fair, president of the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation, prepare to work together on the new 50/50 lottery in support of the Kincardine Hospital redevelopment project