Hayden man wins new home in Really BIG Raffle
Ashlee Lent, an auditor for Baker Tilly, holds the winning ticket for the $525,000 grand prize new home Wednesday during the North Idaho College Foundation’s Really BIG Raffle.
Photo courtesy of North Idaho College Foundation
The 32nd annual Really BIG Raffle’s grand prize home at 1680 W. Alsea Loop in Greenstone’s Montrose Community in Post Falls was won by Hayden resident Steven Hephner.
Photo courtesy of North Idaho College Foundation
Hayden resident Steven Hephner was the lucky winner Wednesday night.
Hephner won the grand prize in the North Idaho College Foundation’s Really BIG Raffle: A newly constructed house appraised at $525,000.
The winning ticket for the new Post Falls home in the Montrose community — ticket No. 3484 — was pulled during a drawing that was streamed live online. This year marked the 32nd anniversary of the Really BIG Raffle fundraiser, and the 32nd consecutive ticket sellout. All 5,000 tickets were purchased by June 18.
This year’s raffle was supported by title sponsor Greenstone Homes and four additional sponsors. Their support, coupled with the investments of faithful raffle ticket buyers, directly support the NIC Foundation’s mission to enhance student success and educational excellence throughout North Idaho College.
“The continued success of the Really BIG Raffle is a reflection of generous individuals investing in the dreams of students,” NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson said in news release sent out after the raffle. "We are truly grateful to every ticket buyer, sponsor, volunteer and ticket outlet for their unwavering support.”
More than $562,000 in prizes was awarded, including the new Post Falls home. This year’s other winners were:
• First place, $32,000 2025 Subaru Forester— Don Gross, Coeur d’Alene, ticket No. 1914
• Second place, $2,000 home furnishings gift card — Ben Puyleart, Rathdrum, ticket No. 0074.
• Third place, smoker and barbecue meat package, a $1,500 value — Steven and Renee Kurtz, Coeur d’Alene, ticket No. 0188
All ticketholders who purchased tickets by the April 30, early bird deadline qualified for a chance to win additional prizes — two separate Costco gift cards valued at $1,000 each. The winners of the gift cards were Jim and Donna Runge of Coeur d’Alene and Claude Frost of St. Maries.
The 33rd annual Really BIG Raffle is scheduled for July 8, 2026. Tickets are available now.
Info: nic.edu/rbr
The 32nd annual Really BIG Raffle’s grand prize home at 1680 W. Alsea Loop in Greenstone’s Montrose Community in Post Falls was won by Hayden resident Steven Hephner.