The Dream Lottery is coming to the rescue of those feeling ho-hum about their living space during the latest stay-at-home order.
The semi-annual sweepstakes in support of London’s hospitals kicked off Thursday with grand prizes that can spruce up your current home or get you a whole new one.
Among the four top prizes is a 4,235 sq. ft luxury home at 7408 Silver Creek Crescent. The fully furnished $1.5 million build includes an open concept layout, finished basement, two car garage and a backyard pool. For anyone looking for more of a country oasis, there is a $1.3 million cottage in Grand Bend. Also fully furnished, the 4,436 sq. ft home includes a dream kitchen with a large island and a backyard patio overlooking the forest.
The Spring 2021 dream cottage in Grand Bend.
Grand prize option number three gives the lucky winner a chance to reshape their current home with a $300,000 gift certificate from Casey’s Kitchens, $130,000 gift certificate from TLC Landscaping Design + Pools, a $100,000 gift certificate from Accents Home Furniture and $500,000 cash.
As always, there is the option to take $1 million cash instead of the homes or makeover package.
"The reason we have done these four grand prizes is simply to provide a wide variety of choice for our winners and also to provide that dream kind of feel when you're purchasing your tickets in support of our hospitals," said John MacFarlane, president & CEO of the London Health Sciences Foundation. "It's exciting for everybody because they can see themselves wining and either living in one of these homes or enjoying the benefit of these packages."
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, there will be no in-person tours of the dream homes. Instead, people can take a virtual walk through and purchase tickets online.
"It is totally an online program and we started that last year at this time at the beginning of the pandemic," said MacFarlane. "We were wondering whether people would buy into that and the reality is they did. They really embraced the online nature of this lottery and we are hoping people will continue to do that."
The lottery has raised more than $44 million since 1996 for the London Health Sciences Centre, Children’s Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Health Care London. That money has been used to purchase specialized equipment and fund research at the three medical facilities.
The past two editions of the lottery sold out early and organizers are optimistic it will happen again this spring.
Tickets can be bought online at www.dreamitwinit.ca. or by phone at 519-488-7100. The lottery also offers a chance to opt into the 50/50 draw with the purchase of a lotto ticket. The pot for the 50/50 last fall was a record $1,266,375.
The grand prize draw is slated to be held on July 8, but could be moved up to June if the lottery sells out.