PF woman wins NIC Foundation raffle house

COEUR d'ALENE — Ellen Gutowski of Post Falls won the grand prize Wednesday in the North Idaho College Foundation’s Really BIG Raffle, a newly constructed home appraised at $572,500.

The winning ticket for the three-bedroom, 2,415-square-foot house, located in Post Falls, was pulled during a drawing that was streamed live online.

Gutowski said after the drawing that winning the grand prize was “unbelievable.” Gutowski grew up in Coeur d’Alene and lived in Las Vegas until retirement, when she and her husband moved back to North Idaho. She said they’ve bought a Foundation raffle ticket almost every year since 2004.

“I have to admit that it sold out too fast last year so that was the only year that I didn’t get to buy a ticket. I bought mine really early this year because I didn’t want to miss out,” Gutowski said. “… Every year, we sit there and wait for our names and it doesn’t come out so we go, ‘Next year, we’ve got it next year.’ Oh my god, I can’t believe it.”

Her connection to NIC is a close one. Gutowski’s sister was longtime, beloved NIC employee Karen Streeter.

“The first summer I was home, we went down and bought a ticket because she believed in that, and it was a big thing for her, so we were always going to buy a ticket,” Gutowski said.

Gutowski said winning the grand prize is going to be very good for her children, some of whom have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s Really BIG Raffle was supported by title sponsor Greenstone Homes. An additional 21 sponsors contributed to make this another successful fundraiser.

“We have sold out of raffle tickets each year for 29 years running, and we are so grateful to every single supporter for their investment,” NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson said. “The positive collaboration between the community, North Idaho College and the NIC Foundation is really what drives the success of this raffle.”

The new house was built in part by the NIC Carpentry and Construction Technology Program students in partnership with regional licensed subcontractors.

This year’s winners are:

Grand prize: $572,500 house — Ellen Gutowski

First place: $32,000 Ford Bronco Sport — Donna Euler

Second place: $2,000 Furnishings Gift Card — Jeff Bonacci

Third place: Traeger Pro 575 Smoker and BBQ Meat Package — Tyanne Sells

All ticket holders purchased their tickets by the April 30 early bird deadline and also qualified to win the early bird prizes – two Costco gift cards valued at $1,000 each. The winners of the gift cards are Bob Stutzke and Colleen Ross.

“The proceeds of this fundraiser provide vital resources to enhance support for student success and educational excellence collegewide,” Anderson said.

The 30th annual Really BIG Raffle drawing is scheduled for July 12, 2023, and the grand prize house will be located in Greenstone Homes’ Coeur d’Alene Place neighborhood in Coeur d’Alene. Idaho residents can reserve their ticket online at www.nic.edu/rbr.