Health Foundation holding annual diamond raffle

    The Health Services Foundation’s Diamond Raffle is right around the proverbial corner. At 7 p.m. Valentine’s Day the Temple Theatre in Market Square will host this year’s foundation’s diamond raffle drawing.     At that time, the diamond winner and two other lucky prizewinners will be drawn. There will also be wonderful door prizes (watch for their ad next week) that are being offered in addition to everything else. However, in order to be eligible for the door prizes one adult show ticket must be purchased.
    “We are excited to be working with the theatre as those turning out just for the drawing will mix with theatergoers to enjoy seeing the winning tickets drawn,” said Elizabeth Dulin, foundation executive director. “This year’s raffle has presented everyone with a chance to see a rather unique and beautiful stone called the ‘asscher cut’ diamond,” added Dulin.
    In the history of diamonds and diamond cutting the Asscher cut diamond is one of the greatest cuts of diamonds ever conceived. Invented in the early 20th Century by the Asscher Brothers of Holland, an Asscher cut is a modification on the most popular cut of previous century … the cushion cut. The Asscher Brothers, celebrities in their own right (they cut many of the “named” diamonds for royalty), invented a cut which was square to rectangular with a flat table (top surface), many small step cuts along the top area and larger longer facets underneath the diamond. Like the cushion cut, the Asscher cut has an open culet (the bottom of a diamond) and a facet plan to draw the eye into the diamond and give the diamond depth. In fact the beauty of an Asscher cut is how the eye “dives into the center of the diamond”… the eye relishes the “pool” of the diamond. In fact, water and diamonds went hand in hand. Until recently diamonds were “graded” in terms of water … “river white” being the “D flawless” of its time. Original Asscher cut diamonds are quite rare and are found mostly on the estate market.
    The winner of this spectacular diamond will enjoy a 1.02 carat stone set in a beautifully engraved 14kt yellow gold setting. The second prizewinner will own a gorgeous garnet pendant, and third prizewinner will enjoy the lovely Celtic Knot sterling silver bracelet. The jewelry is on display at Goodrich Jewelry, North Road where tickets may also be purchased. Other ticket outlets are the Foundation office, Shop ‘N Save and the Auxiliary Gift Shop located at Houlton Regional Hospital. Tickets are $25 each and the winner is responsible for all taxes.
    This year’s raffle continues to support the Foundation’s Nuclear Medicine Project for Houlton Regional Hospital by assisting with Phase II of the campaign. Funds will be earmarked for the renovation/expansion of the nuclear medicine department, as this part of the project addresses a critical need for privacy and comfort in the current radiology department’s nuclear medicine testing area.
    “It is the Foundation’s goal to make sure that everyone using this facility will have all the privacy and comfort necessary while undergoing testing. Phase I was an outstanding success as the Foundation was fortunate enough to raise the monies needed for vital Nuclear Medicine Imaging Equipment. We now look forward to a successful completion of Phase II,” said Dulin.
    “We encourage anyone having questions about this large commitment by the Foundation to please call our office and we will be happy to talk with you about this important undertaking,” added Dulin.
    “Once again, we look forward to seeing lots of folks out that evening to join us for that suspenseful moment of  ‘who will be this years winner’, Dulin went on to say. There are only 850 tickets available for a $25 donation. When the final countdown begins for this years drawing be sure the ‘love of your life’ doesn’t get left out of this sweetheart of a raffle.
    Dulin said, “Tickets may be purchased on-line until 12 noon, Feb. 13 at www.healthservicesfoundation.org. If you make your purchase on-line, but are unable to pick up your tickets before the drawing, the name will be entered and you will receive your tickets by mail/or by other arrangements with the Foundation.”
    “The drawing will have three happy winners, but our communities are the big winners with everyone benefiting from the proceeds to help our hospital be the ‘very best it can be’. Generous community support allows the Foundation to continue assisting our area non-profit healthcare providers to extend ‘excellence in healthcare’ to all those they serve and I cannot think of anything I would rather do and be a part of”, said Dulin.
    For more information on this event or other Foundation programs/projects, please contact the Foundation office at 521-2147 or 521-2503.