Calgary, AB – For the first time in more than two decades, STARS’ Alberta Lottery is in danger of not selling out. The lottery has a 23-year history in the province and is the only charitable home lottery in Canada to set records by selling out every year since it began. However, our stormy economic climate has led to slumping ticket sales in the lottery’s 2016 edition.
“The reality is, STARS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we have been for 30 years. We will continue to be here, but we need your help to make that possible,” said Andrea Robertson, president and CEO of STARS. “The lottery funds the equivalent of one STARS base, and I would like to appeal to Albertans to help STARS be there for the next patient that needs us.”
In light of the financial hardship many are facing, there has been a strong demand for smaller ticket packages. To make the lottery more affordable, some of the larger ticket sets have now been reconfigured into $25 and $60 packages.
STARS recognizes that times are tough for many, so the organization is asking its loyal supporters to find the means to support the lottery in any way they can, just like Alvin Fry did.
“I have been a supporter of the lottery for years and believe that buying tickets is a great way to show my support,” said Alvin Fry, the $25,000 winner of the 2016 loyalty draw, held earlier this year. “Winning is really exciting – it will help us out so much this year.”
Like other charities, STARS has seen a decline in individual, corporate and event fundraising in recent months and there is now an even greater need for public support.
“We recognize that this type of public appeal is unusual for STARS, but these are unusual times for everyone,” said Robertson.
STARS operates from three bases in the province of Alberta. One-third of STARS’ operating budget is funded by lottery revenue, which netted more than $11 million in 2015.
In the early days of STARS, the organization relied heavily on public support to get it off the ground. Thirty years later, the organization still counts on Albertans to keep STARS in the sky for years to come.
Backgrounder
- STARS is a community-based non-profit charitable organization. Approximately 75 per cent of funding needs are met through private donations received from individuals, service groups, businesses and corporations. An additional 25 per cent of funding is received through a collaborative affiliation agreement with Alberta Health Services.
- STARS provides specialized emergency medical care and helicopter transportation for critically ill and injured patients. Our physicians, nurses, paramedics and pilots fly an average of five times per day from our three bases in Alberta.
- For more than 30 years, STARS has provided world-class critical care and transport, flying more than 30,000 missions since 1985.
- In 2014-15, STARS flew 1,839 missions, carrying critically ill or injured patients from our bases in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie.
- The STARS Alberta Lottery is the organization’s single-largest funding source in the province, raising more than one-third of operating costs for the year. The program is in its 23rd
- The STARS lottery is the only charitable home lottery in Canada to sell out every year for the last 22 years.
- The early bird deadline for tickets is midnight on March 2 and draws are on March 18. The final deadline is March 23 and the main draw is on April 14.
- Tickets are $25 each, 3 for $60, 6 for $100 and 18 for $250.
- They can be purchased by visiting starslotteryalberta.ca or calling 1-888-880-0992.