THE QUEEN IS COMING TO

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL SCHOOL

 

Sorry to disappoint all of you followers of the Royal Family but the Queen Mum is not crossing the pond to make an appearance at our school.   Neither are Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, nor even Megan Markle.

 

However, the Queen which is coming to our little hamlet has the potential to make a everlasting impact in our school more than anybody who lives in Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle.

 

Rather, we're talking about the Queen who has garnered headlines throughout the summer, and we're not referring to the outpouring of love for the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, either.

 

The Advancement Board, working in tandem with our pastor, Fr. Brad, and the School Board, will be launching a Queen of Hearts progressive raffle on Valentine's Day, Thursday, February 14.

Since July, a steering committee consisting of Mike Bracken, Craig Bennett, Bill Burris, Tom Boler, Tobias Schlueter, Bill Feind, Joe Scheffler, Mike Leitner, Karen Meskill, Nicole Jurjovec, Doug Gutsell, and Frank Glowaty have been working behind the scenes to comply with all Diocesan and City of Naperville ordinances, policies, and regulations.

 

For example, the Naperville ordinances on raffles puts a $2 million cap on the total winning prize and requires the raffle be completed within 180 days.  Should the Queen of Hearts not be selected by the 180th day, we will continue selecting new raffle tickets from the tumbler until we have a winning ticket.  Also, once the total allowable cap of $2 million for total winning prize is reached, ticket sales will stop and the drawing for the Queen of Hearts will be held on the upcoming

Saturday and continue until a winner is named.

 

At that time, we will continue selecting new raffle tickets from the tumbler until we have a winning ticket.  The winner will receive 50% of the money generated from gross ticket sales net of 50% of any fees and expenses incurred by SSPP to conduct the raffle.  Likewise, Saints Peter and Paul School will receive 50% of the money generated from gross ticket sales net of 50% of any fees and expenses incurred by SSPP to conduct the raffle.

 

 "The city ordinances related to raffles are extensive and require very detailed record keeping to be maintained.  Overall, this type of raffle is a first for the city as well, and the city staff appreciated our open communications with them during the raffle application process."  offered Tom Boler, Parish Finance Manager.   To that extent, we are also required to keep a ledger with the name and address of each ticket that is sold.

 

This fundraiser grossed over $4 million at St. Cajetan School in the Chicago arch-diocese and the McHenry VFW nearly doubled that grossing over $7 million.  Both ventures lasted close to a year before the Queen was revealed.

"One of the things that makes this fundraiser so attractive," noted Advancement Board President Mike Bracken, "is that most of those purchasing tickets each week are likely to be non-school families. "We estimate the majority of sales will come from people who have little or no affiliation, and even little awareness, of Saints Peter and Paul School," chimed in Advancement Board Vice-President Craig Bennett.

 

Here is how it works.

 

The school has purchased a Queen of Hearts board from a certified gaming vendor that contains all 52 cards plus the 2 jokers creating 54 places where the desired ticket could be hiding.  Tickets are $5 each and are sold only at Quigley's Irish Pub from 4:00 -8:00 pm on Thursday and from 4:00 - 10:00 pm on Friday and 11:30 am - 3:45 pm on Saturday and then again from 4:30 - 10:00 pm if the Queen is not revealed.

 At 4:00 pm each Saturday, a school representative will pull a purchased ticket from the tumbler. If the Queen of Hearts is not behind the number selected by the recipient of the ticket drawn, then the pot rolls over and a new round of tickets will start being sold.

 

To coordinate manpower needs, Advancement Board members Nicole Jurjovec and Jennifer Nagle are working with school Technology Coordinator, Colleen Nikiel, to utilize Sign-Up Genius for recruiting parent volunteers. "This has the potential to be the largest fundraiser in school history," observed Principal Karen Meskill.  "In order to meet the anticipated demand of ticket sales for this exciting and popular fundraiser, we are hoping that all families will sign up for a time slot to volunteer to sell tickets at Quigley's," she added.  

 

School Board President Tobias Schlueter has asked Mrs. Meskill to solicit suggestions from all school families, those serving on leadership boards, and teachers and support staff as to projects that could be funded with our winnings.

 

The first drawing slated for Saturday, March 2.