Hastings, MN -- When you achieve a goal 10 years in a row, that achievement isn’t a fluke or luck. It’s a habit. Students and staff at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School put in the extra effort this year by raising $14,665 through the Catholic United Financial Raffle and helped achieve the program’s tenth year in a row of raising more than one million for Catholic schools in the Upper Midwest.

Since January 13, students of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton sold $5 raffle tickets as part of the Catholic United Financial Raffle, a fundraising program provided free of charge by sponsor Catholic United Financial since 2009. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is one of 85 schools in Minnesota and South Dakota that participated in 2023 and raised a combined total of $1,389,332 for Catholic Education.

“To achieve this level of success for 10 straight years is a testimony to the dedication of Catholic school families and staff, and the communities that surround them,” said Michael Ahles, president and CEO of program sponsor Catholic United Financial. “We’re honored that we could unite our 75,000-plus members of Catholic United with the students and staff of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the community of Hastings. Congratulations on an amazing program.”

The six-week selling period concluded on February 26th. As the tickets were sold and money came in, families and staff counted their results, knowing that they would keep every dollar their school raised. Catholic United Financial provided all promotional materials, raffle tickets and prizes for the program at no cost to each school.

On March 9th the Raffle officially wrapped up with a prize drawing ceremony broadcast live on the Catholic United Financial website. The prizes, valued at over $45,000, included a new 2023 Chevy Trax SUV, a dream vacation, grills, a Soft Tub© Spa, electronics, gift cards and more. Catholic United also rewarded the hard work of the top selling student Jacob Kasel at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School with a Singing Machine© Karaoke system and the chance to win a scholarship worth up to $500.

Funds raised by participating schools, like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School are used to enhance school programs and facilities, including funding field trips, building playgrounds, supplementing tuition costs and providing new education technology.

Video, photos and a list of prizewinners and results are available at: www.catholicunitedfinancial.org/raffle.

About Catholic United Financial

Catholic United Financial is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that has served Catholics in the Upper Midwest since 1878. The company provides life insurance and retirement products for its 80,000 members and returns a portion of its profits to local communities through programs like the Catholic Schools Raffle, Post-High School Tuition Scholarship, Gather4Good® service events, and more. Based in St. Paul, Minn., Catholic United helps its members plan for every step of their life journey.