Lori Stevens, R.N., says she’s fortunate to win $10,000 donated by Findlay Toyota and Flagstaff Medical Center.
Stevens bought one raffle ticket for last month’s Turquoise Ball, and didn’t give it another thought. Then came several phone calls from her boss. “I was shocked!”
Stevens is a nursing director at Verde Valley Medical Center, part of Northern Arizona Healthcare. She traveled to Findlay Toyota in Flagstaff today to claim her prize. She thanked the Findlay staff who spent a long time helping her decide whether to take the money or choose a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle or Toyota Corolla. After discussing her options, Stevens opted to take the cash.
This is the first time a car raffle has been part of the annual Turquoise Ball. FMC Special Events Coordinator Naomi Peterson says the hospital wanted to do something for the 50th annual event. “The employees were very excited and the raffle itself brought in $30,000.” Proceeds from the event will benefit the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the only facility of its kind in Northern Arizona. Each year a different department benefits from the fundraiser whose proceeds benefit an endowment. “Next year we are looking at Trauma Services,” added Peterson.
“We know the hospital is a great contributor to the community here and we thought we could help drum up some money,” said General Manager Robby Findlay. “Having a baby born there, I knew the type of people they were and how big a part of the community it (FMC) is here,” he added.
Raffle tickets for December’s Turquoise Ball were $25 each and sold to Flagstaff Medical Center and Verde Valley Medical Center. The event raised more than $100,000.
Flagstaff Medical Center’s first Turquoise Ball began 50 years ago in 1961 with the goal of becoming “the outstanding social event of the Northern Arizona winter social season’.
In Photo: Lori Stevens, daughter Rachel, and Robby Findlay
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