Wednesday, May 07, 2025
55.0°F

'The largest gift basket I have ever won'

DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 9 months AGO
by DEVIN WEEKS
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | July 13, 2023 1:09 AM

Jamie Morgan has won a few prizes in her life, perhaps a gift basket here or there.

“I win like small stuff, like when you put your card in at events,” she said Wednesday evening.

She can now add something much larger to her prize-winning portfolio — a $590,000 home, the grand prize of the North Idaho College Foundation's 30th annual Really BIG Raffle.

"This is like the largest gift basket I have ever won," Morgan said during a phone call with NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson after her winning ticket was drawn.

Morgan, of Post Falls, is a former NIC employee. She worked as a business coach at the North Idaho Small Business Development Center for four years and prior to that she was a receptionist at the Adult Education Center.

She is now the director of operations and marketing for the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, so she was at the River City Market and Music event in Post Falls when the virtual Really BIG Raffle streamed live online.

“I was working the event, and all of a sudden someone from the event calls and they’re like, ‘You need to go home right now,'" Morgan said. "I was like, ‘Why?’ and they’re like, ‘Check your ticket!'"

Morgan knew about the Really BIG Raffle for years, but has only bought one grand prize ticket a year for the past eight or so years.

“That’s a really good deal,” Morgan said.

“Even if you consider six or seven years together, that’s still a really good deal,” said a smiling NIC President Nick Swayne, who was present for the winning phone calls after the drawing.

“A fabulous deal,” Morgan said.

She said she's not sure if she's going to move right into the new home at 1993 W. Moselle Drive in Coeur d’Alene.

"I really need to let this settle," she said. "I am super excited, just so you know!”

Really BIG Raffle tickets were $150 this year and 5,000 of them were sold, with 4,265 tickets purchased by the April 30 early bird deadline. The tickets sold out May 25.

The first-place prize, a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport valued at $32,000, was won by Rathdrum couple Maura and Johnny Gregg, who have bought one Really BIG Raffle ticket each year for the past five years.

"The one you bought, No. 3873, won you a brand new Ford Bronco sport," Anderson said to Maura Gregg over the phone.

"Wow," Gregg said. "That's awesome. That's amazing."

The Really BIG Raffle is NIC Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser. All proceeds support student success and educational excellence throughout NIC. The net proceeds from this year's raffle will be more than $300,000.

Gregg said they buy Really BIG Raffle tickets because it's a good cause, and really good odds on top of that.

"You combine those two things and it's worth buying a ticket," she said. "It's just a really good cause."

"We promise you we'll blow it on students," Anderson said, smiling.

Gregg said she and her husband were just discussing how they need to replace one of their vehicles, a 2003 Subaru Outback.

"It's great timing," she said. "It's time to replace it."

"Happy to help," Swayne said.

Other big winners from the 2023 Really BIG Raffle:

Second place: $2,000 home furnishings gift card — Paul Marquez

Third place: Traeger Pro Smoker and meat package, $1,500 value — Edward Chaney

photo

DEVIN WEEKS/Press

North Idaho College Foundation data and resource coordinator Kristen McFadden, left, hands a winning ticket to NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson to announce during the virtual 2023 Really BIG Raffle held Wednesday evening in Schuler Performing Arts Center on campus.

photo

DEVIN WEEKS/Press

Ashlee Lent pulls a lucky early bird ticket from the drum Wednesday evening during the North Idaho College Foundation's Really BIG Raffle.

photo

Morgan

MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES

North Idaho College grad wins Really BIG Raffle house
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 10 months ago
Really BIG Raffle winners rake it in
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 3 years, 9 months ago
Early birds get the win
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 9 years, 10 months ago

ARTICLES BY DEVIN WEEKS

Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations
May 7, 2025 1:08 a.m.

Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations

Lakes Middle School eighth graders explore Civil War through demonstrations

Reel dancing was a fine way to spend time in 1800s America. It was popular again Monday during an American Civil War reenactment at Lakes Middle School, where students lined up, faced each other and galloped two-by-two along the rows, dipping and diving through arm arches and clapping along as they gave the Boston Tea Party dance a whirl. “I love the hands-on," eighth grader Jonathan Mohr said. "It’s a lot more educational in my opinion."

North Idaho College's Isakson, Haft are Lewis-Clark State College Alumni of the Year
May 3, 2025 1:08 a.m.

North Idaho College's Isakson, Haft are Lewis-Clark State College Alumni of the Year

North Idaho College's Isakson, Haft are Lewis-Clark State College Alumni of the Year

They both graduated from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. They both attended Gonzaga University. They both work as deans at North Idaho College. Now, Vicki Isakson and Tami Haft are both the 2025 Lewis-Clark State College Alumni of the year.

Modern-day wizard showcases science sorcery at Bryan Elementary
May 3, 2025 1:07 a.m.

Modern-day wizard showcases science sorcery at Bryan Elementary

Modern-day wizard showcases science sorcery at Bryan Elementary

Science is everywhere. Modern-day wizard David Hagerman made this joyfully apparent Thursday as he showcased his scientific sorcery to wow students at Bryan Elementary School. The Emmy-nominated David Hagerman generated laughter and wonder as he used gravity, electricity, chemical reactions and humor to share just how cool science can be.