HOULTON, Maine — With Valentines Day fast approaching, good things often come in dozens when buying gifts for that special someone in a person’s life.
It is hard to go wrong with a dozen roses or a dozen chocolates to make that person feel loved. And there is also the Health Services Foundation’s 12th annual Diamond Raffle.
“Year 12 presents a beautiful selection of three pieces in platinum — the most beautiful of metals used in jewelry today with a rich white luster and understated elegance that is beyond compare,” said Elizabeth Dulin, executive director for the Foundation. “We have a 3-stone platinum diamond ring that is one full carat, second prize a half-carat platinum pendant with platinum chain and third prize has two pieces, a half-carat (total weight) platinum diamond earrings with a Citizens platinum tone watch.”
The grand prize has a retail value of $6,500. The total retail value of all the prizes is $11,500.
Raffle tickets are still being sold and cost $20 each. Tickets may be purchased at Goodrich Jewelry or at the Health Services Foundation office located inside Houlton Regional Hospital. Ticket buyers must be 16 years of age or older to participate and the winner is responsible for paying all taxes.
The drawing will be held on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, Feb. 14, at 5 p.m. at Goodrich Jewelry.
“As most everyone knows this year’s diamond raffle will support the Foundation’s new campaign to purchase nine specific items for seven different departments requested by Houlton Regional Hospital, thereby providing a broad based campaign for a number of departments with vital health care needs,” Dulin said. “Those who work at Houlton Regional spend every day doing a remarkable job with the equipment they have, however, it is time to help these departments with new upgrades to let them continue doing the remarkable work they do. To give the very best in-patient health care is why they do what they do, and we know their new equipment will keep them delivering their specialized services at the optimum high level of standards they have set for themselves in the delivery of that care. We are sure most everyone has been touched by at least one of the departments for themselves, family, or friends when in need of a medical service and will always want to know they are receiving the best possible care available to them at the time of their visit.”
This year’s raffle is also the final one in partnership with Goodrich Jewelry.
“Much to my dismay this is the last one in partnership with Walter (Goodrich),” Dulin said. “It has been a wonderful partnership over the years. We’ve had a lot of fun choosing which items to raffle and it’s been very successful for us. We’ve brought in more than $150,000 from these events.”
Goodrich will not be participating in future diamond raffles because he plans to close his business and relocate to Massachusetts to be nearer to family. He plans to start a “Going out of Business” sale July 1 unless someone comes forward to purchase the jewelry store.
It was Goodrich who first came up with the idea for the diamond raffle as a way to raise money for the Foundation.
“The first ring we did was just a basic solitaire ring,” he said. “The first one we did, we sold all 750 tickets rather quickly, so we knew it was going to be a success. It really took on a life of its own after that.”
In subsequent years, Goodrich and Dulin consulted on different prizes they could offer and it quickly expanded to include earrings, pendants and a men’s watch.
All jewelry items may be seen and tickets purchased at Goodrich Jewelry, North Road, Houlton. Anyone wishing further information regarding the Foundation’s current fundraising project or any other Foundation related information can call the Foundation office at 207-521-2147. You may also visit their website at www.healthservicesfoundation.org.
