Olympia, Washington – January 17, 2012 – Today, Washington’s Lottery announced its gift of $150,000 to the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) from sales amassed by the inaugural Hometown Heroes Raffle.
Last September, Washington’s Lottery and the WDVA partnered to launch the first annual Hometown Heroes Raffle supporting veterans across the state. The $10 raffle tickets benefited the WDVA’s Veterans Innovations Program, which provides crisis and emergency relief, as well as education, training, and employment assistance for Washington veterans returning from post-9/11 conflicts.
The Lottery successfully sold 98 percent of the 300,000 Hometown Heroes Raffle tickets, a big success for a first-time game. “The Hometown Heroes Raffle created a way for the Veterans Innovations Program to continue to assist Washington’s veterans where previously there was no future funding available,” said WDVA Director John Lee. “We’re very thankful to have the Lottery as a partner. With their help we can continue to serve the men and women in our state who have served us so bravely,” he continued.
While the Lottery presented the WDVA with a check for $150,000 for the Veterans Innovations Program today, there’s more to come as it plans to make a second contribution to the program later this year once unclaimed prizes and final costs are calculated.
With any Washington’s Lottery prize, prizes expire after 180 days of the game’s drawing. This gives players until May 8, 2012 to claim their Hometown Heroes Raffle prize. “These brave men and women have selflessly served here at home and abroad, we’re doing everything we can do ensure they receive the most funding as possible from the game’s ticket sales.” said Bill Hanson, director of Washington’s Lottery.
To learn more about the Veterans Innovations Program, visit www.dva.wa.gov/Vet_Inn_Pro.html. To learn more about the Hometown Heroes Raffle, visit www.walottery.com/heroes.
