Kitchener’s Yvonne McGrath wins November’s 50/50 draw and plans on sharing her good fortune
November 14, 2023
Latest winner tells her sons, “Guess what? Your old lady won!”
October's 50/50 winner Yvonne McGrath visited Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge to collect her winnings from Director of Marketing and Development, Jonathan Randall.
It may have come a month ahead of time, but Yvonne McGrath isn’t complaining about her early birthday surprise. The Kitchener resident is celebrating after landing the latest 50/50 jackpot, a few weeks ahead of her 83rd trip around the sun.
“It’s a wonderful early birthday gift,” she says.
While she was out one Friday evening in late October, McGrath popped into St. Jacobs Country Playhouse to buy some 50/50 tickets. “I drove by the farmers’ market where the theatre is, and the young lady there was most helpful, so I bought 40 tickets for $20.”
A few days went by, and she didn’t think about the draw until the following Wednesday afternoon, November 1.
“I’m sitting there in my chair, and the phone rings.”
It was Artistic Director Alex Mustakas, who was calling to give her the good news. “Are you having a good day?” he asked, before making her day even better by telling her that lucky ticket number #99004491015 had won her $7,745.
McGrath remembers thinking, “This can’t be real. It’s a good thing I was sitting down, because I don’t know what I would have done.”
She immediately called her sons and excitedly told them, “Guess what? Your old lady won!”
McGrath visited Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge on November 14 to collect her winnings from Jonathan Randall, Drayton Entertainment’s Director of Marketing and Development.
She plans on putting most of it aside for a rainy day, plus she’ll be spending a portion of the windfall on some of the important people in her life.
“I’m going to treat one of the parish priests, Father Brian. It’s his 75th birthday, so I’ve invited a few close friends, and I’m taking them out for supper tomorrow night for a celebration meal. I’ve been blessed with this great gift, and I want to share it.”
McGrath usually buys 50/50 tickets when she goes to see Drayton Entertainment shows, and she’s a big fan of musicals.
“They’re all good, the quality of the productions,” she says, adding that she’s looking forward to next season’s Jersey Boys.
“I saw them in Niagara. It was really good, so I want to see them again. That’s my favourite show.”
The December raffle will run through 11:59 p.m. on November 30, with a Grand Prize draw at noon on December 1. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://drayton5050.com, with three tickets for $10, 40 tickets for $20, or 100 tickets for $40.
The jackpot is updated online in real-time and grows as more people participate – the published amount is the winner’s take-home prize.
Tickets may be purchased by individuals 18 years or older and located in the Province of Ontario at the time of purchase. All ticket sales are final and ticket buyers will receive a receipt via email after purchasing that will list all numbers associated with the purchased tickets.
Tickets are sold using an electronic raffle system approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and supplied by Bump Worldwide Inc. Raffle License AGCO #RAF1232607. Please play responsibly. Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline 1-888-230-3505 or visit www.connexontario.ca. For complete details, including rules of participation and frequently asked questions, please visit: https://drayton5050.com.
About Drayton Entertainment
Drayton Entertainment is an award-winning, not-for-profit charitable arts organization (12591 1313 RR0001) operating six professional live theatre venues in five Ontario communities – the original Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton, Huron Country Playhouse (Mainstage and South Huron Stage) in Grand Bend, King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and Schoolhouse Theatre in St. Jacobs, and the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge.
Drayton Entertainment is one of the largest employers of professional artists in the country across all artistic disciplines with over 400 artist contracts issued annually. The organization’s sustainable theatre model has emerged as a powerful force for culture and tourism in the province and has been recognized by the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario as well as the Ontario Innovation Excellence Awards.
In the News
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Every Ticket Makes a Difference!On November 2, long-time Drayton Entertainment supporter Dennis Breen was thrilled to receive the exciting news from Artistic Director, Alex Mustakas, that he had won the online 50/50 Jackpot – a total of $6,110.
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It Pays to Play!Congratulations to our September 50/50 Winner!
After playing regularly since the raffle began in 2021, Carol Boyd's ticket number was finally called!