Fisher-Titus Draws Grand Prize Winner for $10,000 Blooming Cash Raffle

Apr. 11—NORWALK — Steven Johnson of Ottawa Lake, Mich., was drawn as the Grand Prize winner of the Fisher-Titus Foundation's $10,000 Blooming Cash Raffle.

There were 2,199 tickets sold as part of the raffle, returning more than $24,000 in proceeds to the cardiac cath lab renovation after the payout of prizes.

"Thank you to everyone who supported the Blooming Cash Raffle by buying or selling tickets, and by spreading the word!" said Angie Smith, director, Fisher-Titus Foundation. "Because of your support over the past three years, this event has been a fun way to raise over $84,500 for vital improvements to the health care available right here at Fisher-Titus for our loved ones and neighbors."

In addition to the grand prize winner, Jon Ditz, a Fisher-Titus volunteer, was drawn as the winner for the $250 employee drawing. Prizes were also awarded to Alisha Nims, manager, obstetrics, for selling the winning ticket and Nichole Hanuscin, manager, benefits & wellness, for being the top seller. Ticket sales for the raffle began in January and Paige Metarko of Monroeville was announced as the $1,000 Early Bird Drawing winner on Thursday, March 10.

Proceeds from the Blooming Cash Raffle support new equipment, technology, and redesign for the cardiac cath lab at the Snyder/White Heart & Vascular Center, bringing this surgical suite up to the skill level of the Fisher-Titus Heart & Vascular physicians and allowing them to perform new lifesaving procedures. The project includes new integrated HD imaging, instrumentation, technology, and operating table for the cath lab.

In 2020, support for the raffle helped the foundation raise more than $17,000 to purchase Zoll X-Series defibrillators for North Central EMS ambulances. In 2021 and 2022, community support for the raffle provided over $67,200 for state-of-the-art technology and equipment for renovation of two cardiac cath labs at the Snyder/White Heart and Vascular Center. Taken together, these philanthropic investments have helped EMS, emergency department, and heart and vascular teams reduce door-to-balloon times by 26 minutes and set a new door-to-balloon time record at Fisher-Titus — 23 minutes — saving lives and quality of life for our patients.

On Feb. 14, 2019 Fisher-Titus Heart & Vascular expanded its services, earning designation as a Level II Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. As a Level II Cath Lab, heart and vascular specialists can provide interventional as well as diagnostic procedures at Fisher-Titus.

From Feb. 14, 2019 through January 2022, Fisher-Titus performed 140 emergent interventional cardiac procedures (PCIs), 289 planned/elective PCIs, and 730 diagnostic catheterizations.

The Fisher-Titus Foundation provides support for Fisher-Titus Medical Center, Norwalk Memorial Home, The Carriage House of Fisher-Titus, and North Central EMS. Through philanthropy, the Foundation raises funds to strengthen the health care services available to the community.

For more information on the Fisher-Titus Foundation, visit fishertitus.org/foundation.