How It All Started

In 2000, President, Debbie Door was approached by the Washington Athletic Association to help support the construction of a concession stand for the soccer fields. Searching for fund raising ideas, by working with Rotarians Steve Sullentrup and Bill Kluesner, they heard about a car raffle the Warrenton Rotary Club had previous done successfully.

Steve and Bill enjoyed Corvettes and had the idea to purchase a corvette directly from a corvette dealer and raffle off the corvette to raise funds for the concessions stand. Road trips to Kansas City and Kentucky were made by Steve, Bill and Dave Frick from 2000 to 2006, searching for that perfect affordable Corvette.

Dennis Mutert, the first car winner in 2001, with Rotarians Steve Sullentrup and Arnie Sallaberry.

August 2001, 1st year sales of 916 tickets were sold. The success of this car raffle covered 50% of the $80,000 cost of the concessions stand. Overall cost of the concession stand was very low due to the strong labor support given by members of the Washington Rotary Club. Many of these tickets were sold by Rotarian, Bill Kluesner.

In September 2003, Rotarian Bill Kluesner passed away. Since Bill was so supportive of the car raffle and sold many tickets, the name of the Car Raffle was changed to the Annual Bill Kluesner Memorial Car Raffle.

Donations from the all car raffles have been given to the Washington Parks Department for other improvements like the playground equipment with rubber base for the High Street Playground and support for the Rotary Riverfront Trail.

Starting in 2007, because the cost to purchase the Corvettes became more expensive and there was concerns that we could not offer any warranties, the Rotary Club started working with John Feltmann from Modern Auto for the purchase of an new vehicle with a value up to $32,500 or the current cash prize of $25,000. This is the Washington Rotary Club’s largest fund raiser. Funds received from this raffle stay in the community.

24th Annual Bill Kluesner Memorial Car Raffle

By Rotary Club of Washington

24th Annual Bill Kluesner Memorial Car Raffle