Nearly A Quarter Million Raised In Small Business Lottery

CHICAGO — The small business "mega lottery" organized by S&T Provisions Owner Brian Giaretta raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for small businesses in the Mount Greenwood, Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods. It also left two lucky winners with $4,500 worth of gift certificates apiece.

Giaretta, in a Facebook Live video on the S&T Facebook page, said Sunday 19,717 tickets were sold at $10 apiece this month and with additional donations the total raised for the 30 participating local businesses came to a little more than $226,000.

The businesses will split the amount raised evenly. That's more than $7,500 for all of them, and all they had to put up to be part of the raffle was a $300 gift certificate that's not redeemable until January of 2021. READ MORE: 'Mega Lottery' Has $9,000 Worth Of Gift Certificates Up For Grabs

"This money is so generous of you guys," Giaretta said. "It is literally going to keep these businesses open and their employees paid during this time."

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During most of April, residents of the 19th Ward and surrounding communities bought raffle tickets online for a chance at one of two $4,500 prizes. Giaretta selected the winners on Facebook Live as well, using an Excel document and Google random number generator to award the grand prizes to Matthew Rafferty and TJ Doherty.

Rafferty will get 15 of the gift certificates and Doherty the other half. With the second number that was picked having been so high and indicative of a recent sale, Giaretta said it was apparent that Doherty had bought his winning ticket the very day of the raffle.

The raffle money will be split to help these 30 businesses: Cork and Kerry, Diggity Dogs, O'Rourke's Office, Barraco's Pizza, Bacon and Jam, Shrader's Goods, Running Excels, Baron's Shoes, Swanson's Deli, Chicago Lock Box, Barre It All Fitness, A Relaxed You, All Your Dreams Travel LLC, La Fiesta, Wonderburger, Amplify 7, Hippo's, Nicole Marie Salon, Lawlor's Bar, The Plug T-shirt Store, Joseph's Restaurant and Bar, Scissor Hands Salon, Gyro Grill, Above & Beyond Salon & Spa, Kean Gas Station, La Chic Boutique, South Side Irish Imports, Cutrone Barbershop, Loquacious Culinary Events and Marlo Salon.

This isn't Giaretta's first rodeo when it comes to winning tickets that both provoke public interest and help family-run businesses in Mount Greenwood. A neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt last November reached a fever pitch locally, with one Mount Greenwood neighborhood woman winning $2,000 after finding a "golden ticket," hidden in a cemetery, that was sought by thousands of people for weeks.

Good Deeds In The 19th Ward Amid Coronavirus Shutdown:

• Realtor Buys Restaurant Gift Cards, Gives Them Away
• BAPA, Franconello Deliver Free Pasta Meals To Senior Citizens
• Beverly Bakery Hosts Food Pantry During Coronavirus Crisis
• Alderman, Pancake House Deliver Breakfast To Senior Citizens
• Barraco's Delivers Free Pizza Slices During Quarantine
• Car Parade Held To 'Uplift Smith Village'
• Quilter's Trunk Providing Fabric For First Responder Facemasks