After two years with no winner and a jackpot exceeding $2 million, Park Lawn’s longest-running Queen of Hearts raffle will conclude with a draw-down that was scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at At the Office sports bar, 4901 Cal-Sag Road, Crestwood.
An exceptionally large crowd turned out for the Nov. 13 drawing, where emcee Tim Newsome announced the jackpot had reached $2,056,805.
“Let us keep in mind what this is all about—Park Lawn, which is a great charity,” Newsome said, describing the Oak Lawn nonprofit organization that provides services for people with developmental disabilities.
After volunteers from Park Lawn spun the “Bozo drum” full of tickets, Newsome pulled Oak Lawn resident Kathy O’Sullivan’s No. 22 ticket. She was beaming as she came forward from the other end of the bar.
“This could be life-changing money,” Newsome said, waiting for her to join him in front of the board of cards on the wall.
As he peeled back O’Sullivan’s card, there was an audible sigh in the room when he announced, “It is a heart, but not the right heart.” It turned out to be the 2 of Hearts.
O’Sullivan said she felt lucky to have her ticket pulled at all and was happy when a Park Lawn volunteer presented her with 24 free tickets for the final drawing, when a winner must be found.
“For the draw-down, we will pick one ticket and reveal, one ticket and reveal, until we have a winner,” Newsome explained.
“That could take hours,” commented one observer.
Newsome reminded the audience that when the Queen of Hearts is found on Nov. 20, the winner will receive 60% of the pot if they are present. Those not at the drawing will share the pot 50-50 with Park Lawn. That has been the rule throughout the game.
“Don’t tell the regulars, but this was my first time playing,” O’Sullivan said afterward with a grin. “But I definitely will be back next week. I’m getting a table.”
It is anyone’s guess what the final jackpot will be.
“Any tickets sold up until the drawing will go into the pot,” Newsome said.
As usual, tickets are six for $5, 12 for $10 or 24 for $20. They may be purchased at Park Lawn, 10833 S. LaPorte Ave. in Oak Lawn from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays (until 3 p.m. on drawing days). Tickets are also available At the Office until 6:30 on Wednesdays. More information be obtained at www.parklawn.com
“I encourage everyone to get their tickets early,” said Newsome. Along with the largest jackpot ever, the crowds attending the drawing are expected to be the largest ever also. He thanked everyone who bought tickets for supporting Park Lawn as well as his sports bar each week.
To accommodate the expected crowds on Nov. 20, “We are going to have tents outside, where we will be selling tickets too,” said longtime volunteer Bonnie Price, the Worth village clerk. Her daughter participates in Park Lawn programs, and she is among the volunteers who has been selling tickets inside each week, and otherwise helping to run the drawings since they began.