Raffle Prizes...Will I Win?
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118570)
Gainesville, Florida
February 2, 2024 5:31pm CST
At work, there is a big event coming up. Next week is the big store managers' meeting in Las Vegas, where all 1,300 store managers in our company, plus several hundred people from the corporate offices, will gather to discuss the year in review and look ahead to the coming year. It ties in with our company's fiscal year, which begins the first week of February.
Part of the tradition of the store managers meeting is raising money for the company's employee relief fund, a dedicated funding source to help company associates in times of need. And to make raising money fun, the company raffles off lots of high-value items. The money associates use to buy raffle tickets is a tax-deductible charity donation. In the past, the raffle was only open to attendees of the big event in Vegas, but this year they opened up the raffle to all employees of the company. Each ticket costs $20, with the entire amount going into the employee relief fund.
There are some great items being auctioned off, such as Super Bowl tickets, a BMW car, an Alaskan cruise, big-screen tv's, off-road vehicles, golf carts, trips and more.
I bought tickets for the car (a very nice BMW), the 8-day Alaskan cruise for 2, the big-screen tv, and a week-long trip to Disney World. Given that less than 10% of the 330,000 people in our company buy raffle tickets, it really increases the odds of winning.
Of course, those of you know me well are probably laughing that I bought a raffle ticket for the Disney World trip since I already go there about 50 times a year, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to have an all-expenses paid trip to see the Big Mouse.
It would be fun to win, but I don't care if I do or not, because the money raised goes to a good cause, one that I would have donated to anyway even if there wasn't raffle prizes offered.
Do any of your employers offer chances for employees to win large prizes or cash drawings?
21 people like this
18 responses
@1creekgirl (40615)
• United States
2 Feb
No, my company never did that. For a couple of years we got longevity pay, but that didn't last long.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
2 Feb
I worked more than 27 years of my life in a career in government, where they weren't allowed to do anything like that (you know, because it's all taxpayer money). So I get excited that I work in the corporate world now where we can have such things as raffles and bonuses and matches to our 401k and discounts on our stock purchases. I never had any of that working in government.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40615)
• United States
2 Feb
@moffittjc I worked at our local Health Department district and the pay wasn't great, but the vacation and sick leave time was pretty good.When I retired after 27 years, they gave me money for unused vacation time and unused sick leave counted towards time served.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
@1creekgirl I never complained about the lack of incentives (bonuses, stock options, company 401k matches, etc) because I feel we made up for it due to the fact that we got a pension. I worked at my last government job for 20 years and retired with a full pension that I will now collect for the rest of my life. Not a bad deal at all if I must say.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (459212)
• Switzerland
3 Feb
@moffittjc - If you believe that this will happen, I think it's going to happen!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
@LadyDuck I have faith! I have faith! I believe I am going to win.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
I have a bold vision of winning the new car! At least I hope I do! haha
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86820)
• United States
3 Feb
I once worked at a place and won the raffle..good luck to you.
I won the trip to a choice of Vegas or Tahoe..I chose Tahone, 3 days, 3 nights, rental car and hotel inclusive.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
That is awesome! I would have chosen Tahoe as well. Did you enjoy the trip, and was it worth it?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
@RebeccasFarm That’s great to hear. I’ve never been to Tahoe, but it is a place I’d like to visit someday.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
In addition to the raffle prizes they are offering now in conjunction with the big store managers meeting in Vegas, our company also does raffle prizes at our company Christmas party, where employees can win tv's, barbecue grills, power tools and gift cards.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
@just4him well, the pay could certainly be better, but I’m not complaining. I enjoy the work I do…most of the time.
1 person likes this
@just4him (307134)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
3 Feb
@moffittjc You have a great company to work for.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
3 Feb
That is sort of the way I look at it when it comes to something like this. So long as I know the money is going to something good, I don't care if I win anything. I WANT to of course. But I also never expect to because winning is not something I seem to be particularly good at. lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
Yeah, you and I have had several conversations on your luck, or lack thereof. I don't have a great track record of winning things either, but I still hold out hope. Every time I enter a contest, in my mind I feel like I already won that prize (even though it never happens haha).
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Feb
@porwest That’s what I keep telling myself as well.
1 person likes this
@porwest (78759)
• United States
4 Feb
@moffittjc The lottery is like that for me. Maybe I will be right one day and "it's only a matter of time" becomes a true statement. Fingers crossed. lol
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29011)
•
3 Feb
I worked for a company that did something similar. The prizes were not as lavish as yours are, but it was fun. I won a trip to Branson, MO. It's pretty there, we enjoyed it, but Branson is just not my favorite place to go. It's always way, way too crowded. But hey, I won! There was even a chunk of extra cash included for food, etc.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
That's awesome that you at least won something. Probably the best contest I ever won was a 4 day/3 night cruise. I also won a 10-speed bike when I was 12 years old. I thought those were pretty cool prizes.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
@MarieCoyle Wow, that is really cool! And for a good cause as well.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29011)
•
4 Feb
@moffittjc
Oh, I forgot. Years ago I bought a raffle ticket for $1 to raise money for a new park. To my surprise, for my $1, I actually won. Well, two people won, our prize being we each one a half of a beef, processed, packaged etc. Gee, that was such a nice thing to win, I sure wouldn't mind doing that again! Been quite a few years since then, I forgot about it.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85681)
• United States
3 Feb
@moffittjc Yeah, and if win one, you’d be so happy you probably wouldn’t care that much that you couldn’t have two.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
@AmbiePam That is so true. I would be so excited that I wouldn’t even care about anything else.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
I’m not sure. I didn’t read the fine print when I purchased the raffle tickets. But I would think that they limit you to one prize. At least I think that would be the fair thing to do.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170509)
• United States
3 Feb
I hope you win..Been to Alaska a couple of times .once on a day cruise..so wouldn't that, but would like the golf cart, def. Superbowl tickets..and yeah, who doesn't love Mickey? Could you go to any of the Disney parks..like split it up between them?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (170509)
• United States
3 Feb
@moffittjc They all sound pretty great honestly.Are you going to Vegas? That is quite fun in itself! You know what else they could have added to the prize list? A combo gas and charcoal grill..that would be nice to win as well. They tend to be a bit high priced.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
I don't know the fine details of what Disney parks the contest winner will have access to, but I suppose it will probably be the Magic Kingdom. But I'm not really worried about that, because I'm an annual pass holder and I can simply go to any park I choose while I'm there.
The golf cart they are offering is a really fancy one, and it's really nice. I would love to win that, but I don't have any place I could store it. There were a couple of other cool raffle prizes to buy tickets for, like a new computer, autographed NFL jerseys and helmets, outdoor kitchen/grill, complete kitchen renovation, and more, but I only focuses on 3-4 things that really tickled my fancy.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
@snowy22315 No, I am not going to Vegas. It is for store managers and corporate executives only. I'm a manager, but I'm not THE store manager at our location.
And speaking of grills, our store is currently doing a contest for associates to win a very nice and expensive gas grill. They did won last month with a smoker grill. I think it's nice that we do things like that on the local level as well as through the overall company.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48561)
• Canada
3 Feb
We had draws at a couple of workplaces that I worked in over the years.
I remember when I was new at one company and bought a ticket, and was talking to a couple of others who were kind of bummed that their ticket didn't win, that whoever bought a ticket after theirs was the winner. They asked to see my ticket, and sure enough, it was mine. It was a cash prize.
I had the same thing happen at my current employer, it was nice to win. It was cash also.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48561)
• Canada
3 Feb
@moffittjc That is amazing when companies raise up their employees like that.
I am sure that the rest of the year that the employees work their very hardest and give as much as they can during their work day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb
@Juliaacv Nah, the euphoria among the works lasts a week at best. The rest of the year they slack off! Haha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
We have a local company here in town that makes the news every year around Christmas, because they give away huge sums of cash as raffle prizes to their employees. I think the company has less than a hundred employees, and they give away $50,000, and $100,000 cash drawings. I think one year they paid off the mortgage on one winning employee's house. I think it's awesome when companies give back to their employees like that.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95722)
• Marion, Ohio
2 Feb
I never worked anywhere that had a fund to help the employees. It's great that they do. I hope you win something
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (95722)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Feb
@moffittjc That is wonderful. I would like working someplace like that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
@wolfgirl569 Me too. But I'm content with the company I'm at now, because I get really nice bonuses throughout the year.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
I don't really expect to win anything, but if I do, I hope it's the car!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb
@JudyEv Thank you! Don't forget to cross your toes as well. I need all the "crossing" I can get! haha
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326126)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb
@moffittjc I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
Thank you Thelma! I hope I win too. How have you been? I haven't talked to you in quite a long time!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Feb
@thelme55 Oh, you have been absent from myLot for a while? Is that why I haven't seen much of you lately? Well, glad to have you back!
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76481)
• Germany
8 Feb
@moffittjc You are welcome. I am doing fine. I just came back on Mylot. I have time nowadays to Mylot besides doing my housework and taking care of my hubby. Enjoy your day.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
If I win the Disney tickets, I will offer to bring you along as my guest!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
@nela13 Thank you! My fingers are crossed as well..
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157247)
• United States
3 Feb
I hope you win something. I'm retired. Never had an employer that offered big prizes. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
You won the biggest prize of all....retirement!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
@LindaOHio My mom retired on disability too. She said the same thing.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (157247)
• United States
3 Feb
@moffittjc Yeah, man. It's great! Just wish I didn't retire on disability.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73725)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Feb
Best of luck to you and I hope you win, I never worked at a job where there were such drawings,
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I win something. If not, at least my money went to a good cause.
I told my manager this morning (she'll be in Vegas at the meeting) that if I win the car, she has my permission to drive it home for me from Vegas.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (18953)
• United States
6 Feb
wow. I need a new big screen tv. (My uncle's Roku tv works, but it doesn't have a way to use bluetooth earbuds.) My mother would love a BMW (her car is broken and she is looking for a new car.) My best friend had said that her company does that.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb
If I win the big screen tv, I can give you my old tv if you want. It’s a 55-in smart tv.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb
That's nice that you raise money for a good cause.
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (6697)
•
8 Feb
I wish many people signed up for those philantrophic, good-work charity relief funds tickets. I wish you win your prize car, too. 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118570)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Feb
Maybe more people would donate to good causes if there was a chance they could get a nice prize from it.
