It’s official! The Diocese of Raleigh is 100 years old as of Dec. 12, 2024. To help celebrate, eight lucky raffle winners were selected at random. Each will receive a gift package, and the money raised by the Centennial Raffle benefits Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh, the Office of Education and the Office of Vocations.
There’s one prize package for each of the eight deaneries, or geographical areas, in the diocese. Fun fact: The Albemarle raffle generated the most ticket sales, with New Bern as a close second.
Congrats to the lucky eight named below, and a heartfelt “Thank you” to all who participated. The raffle raised nearly $10,000!
Albemarle: Learning to Hang Glide with Kitty Hawk Kites
Winner: Christine Costanzo
The prize package for the Albemarle Deanery, which includes the Outer Banks area, features beach house accommodations for a week, hang gliding lessons, two sweatshirts and a restaurant gift card.
Cape Fear: A Taste of Wilmington
Winner: Wendy Grillo
Also beachy is the Cape Fear Deanery’s offering which is called “A Taste of Wilmington” and includes gift certificates for food and drink, tickets to the Battleship North Carolina and a sunset cruise on the water.
Fayetteville: A Pinehurst Golf Experience at The Country Club of North Carolina
Winner: Brian Brezina
The Fayetteville Deanery package includes a round of golf in Pinehrust at the Country Club of North Carolina, a two-night stay in a condo adjacent to the 16th green at Pinehurst No. 5 and restaurant gift cards.
New Bern: An Award-Winning Stay in Washington, NC
Winner: Tom Nolan
You’ve probably heard of a ghost walk, right? But have you ever heard of an estuarium? Well, it’s an aquarium at an estuary, or tidal mouth of a large river, where fresh and saltwater mix. North Carolina has one in Washington and tickets to it are part of the raffle prize, “New Bern: An Award-Winning Stay in Washington, NC.” The package also includes that spooky ghost walk, as well as a night’s accommodation at the Elmwood Bed & Breakfast Inn and dinner for two, prepared by Jamie Davis, at The Hackney. Davis is a 2024 James Beard Award finalist for best chef in the southeast.
Newton Grove: A Weekend of Wine and Golf
Winner: Irma Alvarez Urbina
The Newton Grove prize package is “A Weekend of Wine & Golf” and includes two rooms for one night and golf at River Landing. It also features a wine tasting for four people at the Duplin Winery in Rose Hill and a gift certificate to Mad Boar Restaurant & Pub.
Piedmont: UNC ‘Fan’atic Package
Winner: Susan Clifton
The Piedmont Getaway is for fans of UNC sports and patrons of the performing arts alike. Think: $200 gift card to the DPAC, gift card for food, Durham hotel accommodations and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Dean E. Smith Center and the Carolina Basketball Museum.
Raleigh: The Ultimate North Hills Weekend
Winner: Denise Deblois
“Raleigh: The Ultimate North Hills Weekend” rounds out the raffle. This prize includes a gift card to the Renaissance Hotel (which may be used there or at other Marriotts), a dinner gift card to Vivace and a handbag (valued at $850) from Marta’s of Raleigh.
Tar River: Winner’s Choice! 2025 ECU Home Football Experience
Winner: Rudy Kellerman
The prized sport for the Tar River Deanery area is football, specifically ECU football. The winner of this package will receive two hotel rooms for one night in downtown Greenville, four tickets (and a parking pass!) to a football game, a signed football and a tailgating experience. The prize also includes a voucher for dinner.