As the tags were removed one by one, the crowded field of more than 300 contestants was steadily whittled down to the final 10.
The tension was palpable. Then, those still remaining in the lottery were called to the front of the stage.
“My heart was racing; I’ll tell you that,” said Jeri Franklin.
Franklin soon found out she was co-winner of the Patriot Powerball — taking home $5,000 that she said she planned to split among a few friends — but throughout the drama of the lottery, the ultimate goal was not lost.
“We’re just here to donate to the kids, that’s the main point of all of it,” Franklin said. “I played soccer, so I have a space in my heart for that, but my nieces play basketball and softball, so really we love it all and want all of the sports to be successful and have everything they need.”
When the field was whittled to two, Franklin and Gloria Bowman decided to split the pot as the night’s big winners.
The mood was upbeat at the American Legion building in Lexington on April 22 as supporters of the Oglethorpe County Athletic Booster Club participated in this year’s rendition of the Patriot Powerball, a fundraiser designed to raise money for middle and high school athletics in Oglethorpe County.
Tickets cost $100 and included dinner for two, a chance at a door prize and a potential opportunity at the night’s grand prize of $10,000.
“When someone buys a ticket, either in advance or they purchase it at auction during the event, they are making a direct investment in our student-athletes,” said Sherry Abrams, OCABC president. “We work to raise money all year and this event is our largest contributor for our general fund.”
The Patriot Powerball accounts for nearly 20% of the OCABC budget every year. More than $40,000 was raised this year, with $26,000 going to middle and high school athletics once the winners of the lottery received their prize money and other expenses are paid.
“In the past, OCABC has been able to provide upgrades for sports facilities, equipment and travel support. We already have a list of needs from the teams for next school year,” Abrams said.
The event worked like this: Ground rules were explained by emcee Jake Willcox, who is on the Oglethorpe County Board of Education.
The 340 tags were placed into a golden roller with 10 withheld by the OCABC. Tag numbers were out of the running once they were called, although it was possible to buy your way back in if one of the 10 OCABC tag numbers were called.
Smaller auctions for cakes, cupcakes, and even a vintage license plate found in The Oglethorpe Echo’s office, were held throughout the event.
Door prizes included a cheese and wine basket, several rounds of golf at the UGA Golf Course and a four-night stay in a mountain house in Murphy, North Carolina.