By Carissa Soukup
While there are 12 days of Christmas, 12 days before Christmas, Heartland United Way held their 12 Keys of Christmas Car Giveaway and gave the Heartland United Way campaign announcement.
Tom and Kim Dinsdale donated a Camaro convertible for the winner of the contest.
Starting on Nov. 26, a Heartland United Way donor was randomly selected to win one of the keys that could unlock the Camaro.
Each winner of a key picked a key number.
Tom Dinsdale drew numbers out one-by-one and, when a number was called, the person received a consolation prize.
The last person standing won the car.
This year, Howard Elementary speech pathologist Jennifer Hahn claimed the bright red Camaro.
“It’s unreal. I did not think I would win,” said Hahn. “United Way helps so many people in this community. I’m really grateful to them as well.”
While the Hahn drove off in the Chevy Camaro, the other 11 key winners didn’t walk away empty-handed.
The following is the other prizes in the order they were called:
12. Two free lube oil filter services at Tom Dinsdale Automotive; Tom Dinsdale
11. $100 Whitey’s Sports Bar gift card; Whitey’s, Jeff Richardson
10. $100 Necropolis Group gift card; Brent C. Lindner
9. $100 Visa Card from Gary Thompson Agency; Krae Dutoit and Ryan Hansen
8. $100 Bosselman gift card; Charlie Bosselman and Brian Fausch
7. Two free lube oil filter services at Tom Dinsdale Automotive
6. $100 Hy-Vee gift card; Grand Island Hy-Vee
5. $100 Balz Sports Bar gift card; Balz, Jeff Richardson
4. $100 Necropolis Group gift card
3. $100 Visa card from Gary Thompson Agency
2. $100 Bosselman gift card
Tom Dinsdale said that he was happy to be able to donate a car for the sixteenth year in a row.
“It (Heartland United Way) reaches a lot of people that have problems, that have needs,” said Dinsdale. “They reach out to a lot of those people and provide good services across the board.”
Heartland United Way president Karen Rathke is grateful to Tom and Kim Dinsdale and those who have donated to United Way this year.
“It means the world to all of the people who really rely on the support of the Heartland United Way programs and services,” Rathke said. “Every single dollar that’s donated is appreciated.”
The goal for Heartland United Way’s campaign this year is $1.4 million dollars.
Rathke and those on the Heartland United Way board gave a campaign update before the big winner was announced.
So far, $1,330,005 has been raised, which is 95 percent of the goal.
The total donation for Hall, Howard, Merrick and Hamilton counties for 2018 is $2,006,075.