2008 Dodge Raffle Grand Prize winner
2008 Dodge Raffle Grand Prize Winner Announced Tiffany Armes of Fredericktown wins Dodge Journey
Tiffany Armes from Fredericktown is the Grand Prize Winner in the 2008 Dodge Journey Giveaway. She was one of 11 finalists who earned the opportunity to select a key and try to start the official Pace Car at the I-55 Raceway in Pevely. The Pace Car was donated by the Missouri/Illinois Dodge Dealers to benefit Special Olympics.
“The Dodge Dealers are an incredible partner,” says Susan Stegeman, Chief Development Officer. “Mike McGinnitey spearheads this promotion for them and he personally went over and above driving the Pace Car to various events across Missouri to assist us in our ticket sales.”
Armes and the finalists received VIP treatment to the 1st annual UMP DIRTcar Roundup. Shop’n Save provided the food and drinks as well as amazing hospitality for the finalists and their families. Shop’n Save is the premier partner for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri.
All 11 finalists were treated to one night’s lodging, tickets to the races for their families, VIP reception and dinner hosted in the Shop’n Save Box, as well as hot laps in the official Pace Car. Local racing legend Kenny Wallace entered the racing event and came up to the box to chat with the finalists.
Each finalist randomly selected a key in hopes of being the holder of the one and only key that would open the door of the Journey. Armes was the 9th finalist to attempt to open the door, and her key worked. She turned around and waved to her family who was watching from the box, then with tears in her eyes, hugged those around her.
Armes’ nephew, Tyler, is a Special Olympics Missouri athlete and attended the race with her. He participates in the Southeast area program.
“Though my involvement in Special Olympics of Missouri is relatively new, the impact that the hundreds of Special Olympians has had on me is profound,”
Armes says. “Watching the area students compete in bowling, basketball, and track & field events has been one of the most touching and rewarding experiences of my life. It is for these reasons that my family has decided to donate the 2009 Dodge Journey to the Fredericktown R-1 School District, to be utilized by the special education department. They plan to use the Journey for student transportation to various life skills activities and as a support vehicle for Special Olympics trips. The decals will stay in place and the vehicle will serve as a great source of pride for our local athletes and community. The faculty and staff are very appreciative of this donation and I know they will make great use of it.”
This year the raffle was a joint effort for Special Olympics Missouri and Illinois. Between the two states there was over $50,000 raised to support the more than 36,000 athletes that participate in the year round sports training and athletic competitions.
