Master of Ceremonies Lee Adams and Raffle Coordinator Gabby Barton celebrate the total money raised through the 2025 Catholic United Financial Raffle on March 27, 2025.
For Immediate Release: March 27, 2025
Contact: Gabby Barton, Raffle Coordinator
651-765-4149, gbarton@catholicunited.org
ST. PAUL, Minn., – Catholic students and staff achieved more than a million dollars in ticket sales to support their schools through the 2025 Catholic United Financial Raffle. The raffle program is just one way Catholic United Financial fulfills its vision to help people be financially secure, faith-filled and engaged in their communities.
Students, families and staff at 72 Catholic schools in Minnesota and South Dakota participated in the raffle program. Between January 20 and March 2, 2025, more than 12,000 students sold $10 tickets, with their respective schools keeping 100 percent of the ticket sales.
Participating schools achieved a combined total of more than $1.3 million in ticket sales, the sixth highest total in the program’s 16-year history. Since its inception, the Catholic United Financial Raffle has contributed more than $16 million to Catholic schools in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
“We’re excited to see this level of success among our partner schools. Congratulations to everyone involved,” said Mike Ahles, Senior Vice President of Distribution for Trusted Fraternal Life. Catholic United Financial is a member of the Trusted Fraternal Life family of brands.
Master of Ceremonies Lee Adams cracks jokes with Father James Peterson of St. Odilia’s Catholic Church in Shoreview, Minn., and Bishop Emeritus John LeVoir as they pull tickets from the nine-foot raffle drum on March 27th. Photo by Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit
Of the schools participating this year, 18 had their best results ever. St. Peter’s School in Canby, Minn., and St. Anastasia School in Hutchinson, Minn., have been participants since the program’s beginning in 2009. Both schools raised record totals, making it their most successful year.
“We all know that living costs are high, so are educations costs. We believe that Catholic education is invaluable to our faith communities and society at large,” Ahles said. “We’re honored to offer this program free to schools and we’re ecstatic to see students and staff leverage the opportunity to make a financial impact for their schools.”
Many schools used social media to express their thanks to surrounding communities for supporting raffle ticket sales. Staff at St. Scholastica Academy of Isanti, Minn., posted: “We’re feeling the love and so grateful for everyone who has purchased raffle tickets for our school fundraiser sponsored by Catholic United Financial! Your support is truly a gift from the heart.”
During the March 27 prize drawing ceremony, Alyssa Niedenfuer of Ramsey, Minn., was announced as the grand prize winner of a new 2025 Chevy Trax SUV or $20,000 in cash. Catholic United Financial announced 40 additional winners of prizes, including vacation getaways, gift cards, Minnesota Twins tickets, Apple watches, and more. The live-streamed ceremony ended with 25 top-selling students receiving $200 tuition scholarships.
More details about the Catholic United Financial Raffle and a list of the 2025 prize winners can be found at www.catholicunitedfinancial.org/raffle.
About Catholic United Financial
Catholic United Financial is a brand of Trusted Fraternal Life™, member-owned, not-for-profit dedicated to connecting people of faith, protecting their future, and generously impacting parishes, schools, and communities in the Upper Midwest since 1878. Learn about our products that protect and our programs that connect at www.catholicunitedfinancial.org.
About Trusted Fraternal Life
Trusted Fraternal Life’s purpose is to serve communities, provide financial security, and enhance quality of Life. Its vision is to be the innovative leader in fraternal partnerships and consolidation, while growing existing business, and engaging more people to enjoy financially secure, purposeful lives. Created in March 2024 by Catholic Financial Life, Trusted Fraternal Life is committed to building the NextGen fraternal benefit society. The organization maintains an ‘A’ financial strength rating with a stable outlook by the Kroll Bond Rating Agency and has been recognized as a Top Workplace eleven years in a row. The Trusted Fraternal Life family of brands includes Catholic Financial Life, Degree of Honor, Woman’s Life and Catholic United Financial. Visit www.trustedfraternallife.org for more about this purpose.
