For the 28th consecutive year, the St. Vincent Educational foundation is partnering for Keller Motors to give away a new car to one lucky winner of a raffle benefiting St. Vincent De Paul schools as part of the annual Seminary Picnic.
This year’s prize is a 2026 Chevrolet Trax. Cash prizes of $1000, $500, $250 and four tickets to a St. Louis Cardinals game on August 10 will be given away to winners as well.
Foundation member and St. Vincent alumnus Amanda Winkler said the tradition started with a giveaway of a Dodge Neon in 1997. Eugene and Velda Keller started the tradition, with Velda still being involved today.
Money generated by the giveaway supports St. Vincent De Paul teachers as well as upkeep of the schools technology and buildings.
“The money that we donate goes to the school 100 percent,” Winkler said. “It is able to allow us to help pay the tuition for our teachers, we like to offer that major benefit. We also are able to do major technology updates for the school and significant renovations. Like whenever we replaced the roof and some of those big renovation projects.”
Winkler said she is proud to be part of an organization that keeps this tradition going, and allows the community to support St. Vincent.
“It’s really neat the traditions that St. Vincent’s has and that we all look forward to every year,” Winkler said. “One of my favorite things is watching the alumni come back for homecoming or the seminary picnic with their own children. These same traditions allow for us to continue to give back and to help our school continue to be a great place. St. Vincent’s is a small school and it takes everybody to be able to continue to make sure the school is thriving so that it’s a place where students can grow spiritually, academically, and personally.”
Winkler said the support that comes from the raffle every year means a lot to the foundation, as it shows how the entire community is willing to support them.
“I think it’s amazing how our community truly supports the school between the alumni, all the local businesses, the parish members,and the parents,” she said. “There’s so many volunteers who invest their time and talents. And it’s just incredible that the Keller family has continued to give back in such a neat way. It just teaches such a lesson of giving and serving and just being a part of the SV tradition and the tradition that I think is in our community in general, you know, no matter what, I feel like the community of Perryville is just a wonderful place to raise children and have a family. And no matter what, our community always rallies behind each other and supports everybody.”
Tickets for the raffle can be found online on the St. Vincent Educational Foundation facebook page, and in person during the picnic or before at Roziers, RP Lumber, Floyd’s Automotive, and Hoeckeles.
