St. Jude Dream Home giveaway builds on fund-raising success

One hundred dollars isn't enough for even one month's rent, but it could buy a house in Cape Girardeau's third annual St. Jude Dream Home raffle.

The grand prize is a 2,500-square-foot house located in the Clarkton Place subdivision in Cape Girardeau. The 1 1/2-story home is equipped with a two-car garage and three bedrooms. The master bedroom will come fully furnished.

The house is estimated to be worth $320,000.

There are 11 other prizes from local businesses each valued at a minimum of $1,000. One in 500 are guaranteed to win a prize as ticket sales are limited to 6,000.

Raffle tickets are $100, and the proceeds benefit the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's leading pediatric cancer research centers. More than $120,000 has been raised from the Cape Girardeau fund raiser in the past two years.

Sponsors include Prestige Enterprise, Charter Media, K103, Hancock Fabrics, the Southeast Missourian, HouseView and Epsilon Sigma Alpha.

"It's unique because it really draws the community together," said Nicole Nenninger, St. Jude senior marketing representative. "They are part of the donating and the building process."

The home is only in the framing stage, but contractor Kenny Pincksten, owner of Prestige Enterprises, estimates it will be complete in the middle of May, barring any further bad weather.

This is the first year Prestige Enterprises has sponsored the Dream Home, but Pincksten has been a longtime donator to the Memphis, Tenn., hospital, which offers care and treatment free of charge to children suffering from cancer.

"I started off with the lot I wanted to donate, and one thing lead to another," Pincksten said. "There's not a better cause than St. Jude."

Besides donating the lot for the home, Pincksten has donated his time as construction coordinator. The Prestige Enterprise employees building the house are also working at a discounted rate, and a portion of the building materials have been donated by members of the community.

An open house is scheduled for May 29. Visitors can take a tour of the home as well as sign up for a free chance to win a $5,000 shopping spree at Hutson's Fine Furniture. The house will be open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. through June 19.

Tickets went on sale Wednesday and can be purchased at Hancock Fabrics, Regions Bank, and Coldwell Banker Hamilton Reality. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (800) 382-8604.

Winners will be announced June 26 during a television special on cable Channel 11.

cpierce@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127