For most people, when they make a donation with a chance at winning a prize, the potential payoff is an afterthought. The prize is helping out the group or people they are donating to.
This year, a record amount of donations were received for the 10th annual Brake for Breakfast event with Dino's Appliance and Mattress Centre and Sobey's Portage, along with a whole host of hourly matching partners. Shortly after the food and cash was delivered, the lucky winners were notified and the grand prize winners couldn't believe their luck.
Michelle Gherasim won the $1000 gift card and she says she was shocked when she got the call.
"Honestly I wasn't even aware of the grand prizes. People started texting me before I got the call. My family will use this for sure, especially my husband. It was a very nice surprise."
Mike Robinson is the manager of Sobey's and says community is a big part of what they do. The prize is great to give out but creating the hype to increase the donations is what it is all about.
"To hear the winner didn't even know about the prize is great. It's always neat to give something like this away, especially as a reward to someone who just wanted to do some good in the community."
Betty Ann Henderson won the brand new mattress from Dino's Appliance and echoed Gherasim's sentiments.
"It wasn't about the prize but it puts a smile on your face. I wanted to support what I feel is a great project in our community. Of course I never expected to win anything."
Brent Gertridge is the new owner of Dino's, a business that has been involved since the event went community wide 10 years ago. He plans to continue to give back to the community when he can.
"My wife is involved with the division and my kids have helped out with the programs. It makes a big difference. It feels good to be able to support this fundraiser and the mattress is simply a nice touch."
When everything was counted up, more than $10,180 was donated along with 2815 boxes of cereal.
