Raffle Winner Donates Winnings to South Windsor Community Foundation

From the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce: On November 3rd, the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce drew the winning tickets for the three prizes of the Annual Chamber Raffle: a $14,000 cash grand prize, 55” 4K Ultra HD Smart TV, and $250 Costco gift card.

Beginning in late September, raffle sales continued until the drawing, which took place at the Annual Discover South Windsor Expo at Maneeley’s by the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce. At 6:45pm, the three winning tickets were drawn. The grand prize winner was Vincent Prestileo, a long time South Windsor resident and businessman.

Vincent and his wife, Diane, felt so blessed to win the grand prize. “My first reaction was so different from what I expected. I was in such awe that God gave us a chance to pass this along,” said Diane. “We felt so blessed!”

“I’ve been buying raffle tickets and other things from the Chamber, Rotary, and others for over 40 years, and actually never once gave it a thought what we’d do if we won,” said Vincent. “So when I had four calls from various people within the community that I won the Chamber Raffle grand prize, my immediate reaction was to donate it back to this community that I’ve belonged to since I was five,” he continued.

Vincent and Diane Prestileo have decided to donate their winnings to the South Windsor Community Foundation.

“We want the focus of the donation to be on the South Windsor Community Foundation,” said Vincent. “Diane and I feel very strongly that God directed this money to us with the sole purpose of doing His will, not ours. Given this, it was so easy for us to give it away to others that needed it so much more than we did.”

Janice Snyder and Craig Zimmerman of the South Windsor Community Foundation were present to accept the donation from Vincent and Diane Prestileo at the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

“This is truly one of the most generous and kind things anyone has done for the Foundation,” said Janice Snyder, President of the South Windsor Community Foundation. “Not one penny the Community Foundation raises goes outside of South Windsor or to administrative costs, and this donation will make a huge impact on our efforts in the community.”

The majority of the donation will be used to fund the new “Kevin’s Kourt,” expected to be completed in June inside of Nevers Park.

“Kevin’s Kourt is a fully inclusive (handicap accessible) basketball court designed by Kevin Ollie, the Head Coach of the UCONN Men’s Basketball team. Kevin’s Kourt will be located right next to the existing ‘My Friend’s Place’ Boundless Playground at Nevers Park,” said Craig Zimmerman of the South Windsor Community Foundation.

Zimmerman continued “June of 2017 is the 10 Year Anniversary of ‘My Friend’s Place’. With the new Kevin’s Kourt being located right next to the popular playground, we want to tie in the grand opening of Kevin’s Kourt with the ‘My Friend’s Place’ 10 Year Anniversary Ceremony on June 24th.”

“We’re so pleased that Vince and Diane decided to donate their winnings to such a worthy cause right in our community,” said Kathy Brady, Executive Director of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce. “Their decision to be so generous is inspiring. Offering handicapped kids a way to play basketball through Kevin’s Kourt will be a wonderful addition to South Windsor.”

The $14,000 donation by Vince and Diane Prestileo will bring the South Windsor Community Foundation close to their $75,000 fundraising goal for the completion of the “Kevin’s Kourt” project.

The second prize 55” 4k Ultra HD Smart TV was Theresa Paciga, and the third prize $250 Costco Gift Card winner was Edward Matley. We like to specially thank Costco for donating the third prize.

For more information about the South Windsor Community Foundation, or “Kevin’s Court,” please visit here.

For more information about the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce, please call (860)644-9442 or visit our website.

Photos courtesy of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce:

(Photo 1) From left to right- Craig Zimmerman of SW Community Foundation, Janice Snyder, President of the SW Community Foundation, Vincent and Diane Prestileo, and Kathy Brady of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce.

(Photo 2) From left to right- Craig Zimmerman of SW Community Foundation, Janice Snyder, President of the SW Community Foundation, Vincent and Diane Prestileo.

(Photo 3) From left to right- Vincent and Diane Prestileo, and Kathy Brady of the South Windsor Chamber of Commerce.