By Jillian Taylor
The Haldimand Press
HAGERSVILLE — Approximately $2.4 million was given out to community organizations on April 27, 2023 from the extraordinary Hagersville Catch the Ace fundraiser that ended on March 30 after Richard Marshall of Nanticoke found the Ace of Spades and won over $2 million.
The weekly fundraiser was held in partnership between the Hagersville Lions and Hagersville Rocks Music Festival Committee (under the Hagersville Chamber of Commerce) and took place at the Hagersville Legion, bringing in a whopping $6,105,400 from 732,712 tickets sold over 45 weeks. After expenses and lottery winnings, $2,9897,536 was raised for local not-for-profit organizations.
Hagersville Rocks controlled 50% of the proceeds ($1,448,767.95), which they dedicated to the West Haldimand Hospital and Healthcare Foundation (WHHHF).
The Lions dedicated 30% ($869,260.77) to the Hagersville Food Bank and kept the remaining 20% ($579,507.09) to distribute in the community. They hope to put a large portion toward a Habitat for Humanity home build in Hagersville, split $117,750 between 13 organizations on April 27, and will disperse the remainder at a later date.
From humble beginnings
With 152 tickets sold the first week to 152,000 tickets bringing in over $1 million in Week 45, “it’s just mind boggling” how the fundraiser grew, said Lion Dan Matten.
“Back in May of 2022, I was at a tiny table at the front of the Legion, texting all my friends each Thursday to remind them to come out and support our lottery,” said Tanya Ribbink of Hagersville Rocks and Hagersville Lions. “As the pot grew, so did our crowd … (to) the almost 10,000 people we saw come through in one day! The weekly pivoting and evolving of the event saw many willing volunteers jump on board.”
The event grew from two volunteers to over 50 so it could run smoothly. Along with the organizing groups, volunteers came from other Lions clubs, the Legion, “and random people that just offered to help,” said Matten.
Matten added that restaurants and residents brought the volunteers free food to keep them energized.
“Things like this could end after Week 1,” said Rob Phillips, Chair of Hagersville Rocks Committee and President of Hagersville Chamber of Commerce. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to Week 45.”
He estimated the fundraiser grew at a rate of 30% per week, adding the bank became worried their insurance wouldn’t cover the significant cash deposits on Thursdays. Additionally, local banks started running out of cash on Thursdays as withdrawals skyrocketed for the cash-only fundraiser.
Phillips said he’s 75% glad to see the event end, adding, “There’s that 25% that says regardless of how much time it took, it’s amazing that we were generating over a $500,000 donation to our causes on a weekly basis and it was only going to get bigger.”
Phillips noted it was also a tremendous benefit to the local economy: “From that tourism and the new people in town, we could probably make that $6 million double in terms of the economic achievement we’ve had,” adding that the fundraiser couldn’t have seen that level of success without outside visitors.
Inspired by Hagersville’s success, the Caledonia Community Support Centre is now hosting a Catch the Ace fundraiser at the Caledonia Legion.
“In Caledonia last week, they sold 800 tickets in Week 1. We didn’t achieve that here until Week 24,” said Phillips, seeing how the Catch the Ace fever continues.
WHHHF receieves $1,448,767.95
WHHHF received the biggest piece of the Catch the Ace pie.
“Thank you is never enough,” said Lisa Hostein, WHHHF Executive Director. “I live in this community, I love this community, and I’m proud to be part of this community. Thank you for everything that you have done…. It will never be forgotten; it will be remembered with great pride and a smile on our faces.”
“We are so very humbled by the pride and ownership that are being extended to our hospital and organization,” said Todd Stepanuik, President and CEO of West Haldimand General Hospital. “On behalf of the entire West Haldimand General Hospital foundation, our physicians and staff, our board, we are so deeply appreciative of your support.”
Stepanuik said they are still figuring out “how best to utilize this incredible generosity.”
“Thanks ever so much for your ongoing efforts for the betterment of our patients and the organization,” Stepanuik concluded.
HAGERSVILLE—On Thursday, April 27, 2023, the Hagersville Rocks Music Festival Committee presented the West Haldimand Hospital and Healthcare Foundation with a cheque for $1,448,767.95 from funds raised through Hagersville’s Catch the Ace lottery. —Haldimand Press photo by Jillian Taylor.
Food bank receives $869,260.77
Designated to receive 30% of the proceeds, the Hagersville Food Bank saw the second largest contribution.
“Before we started (the first round of) Catch the Ace, the food bank approached the Hagersville Lions and explained to us that the need was increasing (already back then) and they struggled to find the funds needed,” said Matten. The Lions agreed to help, launching the first round of Catch the Ace that “slightly exceeded the amount the food bank hoped for.”
“We started Catch the Ace Round 2 in the hopes that we would do as well as in Round 1 or possibly a little better. Now, who would have thought that Round 2 would become such an outstanding success? We certainly didn’t,” Matten continued. “(It’s) so wonderful. They will have a secure financial future for a long time.”
“Our sincere thanks to Hagersville Lions Club for designating Hagersville Food Bank to share the windfall of their amazingly successful Catch The Ace, along with Hagersville Rocks and Hagersville Legion,” said Chairperson for the Hagersville Food Bank, Karen Leatherbarrow. “And to everyone who bought tickets – your donations have provided a much brighter future for our hunger relief centre and those needing our assistance.”
The Hagersville Food Bank has three projects earmarked for the donation, which the board will vote on and announce after their May meeting.
HAGERSVILLE—The Hagersville Food Bank received 30% of the proceeds, or $869,260.77, from the Hagersville Lions Club in the Catch the Ace fundraiser. The Lions presented the cheque to the food bank on April 27, 2023. —Haldimand Press photo by Jillian Taylor.
Legion receives $50,000
Catch the Ace hosts, the Hagersville Legion, received the largest contribution of the Hagersville Lions’ remaining funds distributed last week.
“Thank you to the Legion, to their volunteers, to their bar stewards, and to their members who let us use their veteran’s hall for 45 weeks,” said Phillips.
Ribbink added, “A huge thank you to (Legion President) Jack Esselment and your entire team at the Legion. You were gracious hosts. You stayed beside us the whole time and we couldn’t have done it without you.”
“We would definitely do it again because it’s for the community. We’ve got to give ourselves a big pat on the back for what we’ve accomplished,” said Esselment.
On the funds received, he added, “This will be used for the betterment of the community and the betterment of this organization. I’ve always said the Legion is the cornerstone of remembrance. If we don’t have a Legion, we don’t have remembrance. I promise you all that money will be put toward good uses.”
Final Remarks
“When the Hagersville Rocks Committee spearheaded this fundraising initiative, we never imagined it would grow to the success that it has,” said Ribbink. “Bringing the Hagersville Lions Club on as a partner was a smart move and we built the event together.”
She noted how Hagersville Rocks has always donated to WHHHF, adding, “Catch the Ace helped us attain that goal to a magnitude we never foresaw!”
“The amazing teams we created have resulted in friendships and memories that I will forever cherish,” continued Ribbink.
“It feels fantastic that we have something so great and extraordinary that to my best knowledge has never been done in this area before,” said Matten. “The fruits of our labours is that we can hand out these cheques to recipients…. It is the best feeling that we can help organizations.”
He concluded, “What an outstanding success made possible because of the many volunteers and the community’s support. Thank you all.”
“These organizations have a tough decision of how to make the best use of these once-in-a-lifetime donations, but that doesn’t mean that ongoing support isn’t needed,” said Phillips. “This will go to very specific projects that could not have happened any other way. It’s not meant to replace the regular fundraising parties or events…. Keep these organizations at the forefront of your giving.”
“This is lifechanging for our community…. This is truly a legacy that all of us are going to leave behind in our community,” concluded Phillips. “Will we do this again? I’m sure we will at the right time, but right now we need a break.”
