H4H draw winner thrilled with his $114,050 prize

For 58-year-old Cor Slikboer, the Hogs for Hospice Holiday Raffle couldn’t have come at a better time.

The single father of two daughters had his ticket drawn on New Year’s Eve and is now $114,050 richer.

He was out driving with his youngest daughter when the call from the Hogs Committee came through his Bluetooth.

“It wasn’t a number I recognized,” he said. “My first reaction was to not answer.”

When he did answer, he was happy that he did. It was a phone call he’d thought about when he bought his tickets in December.

“When I bought the tickets, I remember telling myself that I have to pay this forward,” he said.

So, after taking care of both his daughters’ car loans and his own truck loan, Slikboer has reached out to Family Kitchen in Leamington and Green Heart Kitchen in Kingsville and made donations.

The two businesses are known locally for helping the needy with their food programs.

“They both do great work for this community and I thought it was only right,” he said. “It’s nice to receive, but the rewards of being able to help someone who is down and out, are great.”

The big win takes a lot pressure off him financially. The BASF employee works hard and hopes to enjoy some of the remaining winnings when it’s time to do so.

He has also set aside money to help his girls when they decide to get married.

Cor Slikboer, centre, is surrounded by the Hogs for Hospice Committee in this photo taken in front of the Hospice Erie Shores Campus on Monday, January 4. From left are, Benji Mastronardi, Donny Pacheco, Tim Iles, Slikboer, Joe Oswald, Erie Shores Health Foundation Executive Director Christine Colautti, Dave Hodare and Brian Cornies.

As for the Hogs for Hospice group, Slikboer is happy to be associated with them.

“What a great group of guys,” he said. “I hope the communities realize how wonderful these guys are.”

“Our hope as an organization, is that a call like this could change peoples’ lives in a positive way, and it is very clear to our H4H organization that this was a mission accomplished,” said Hogs spokesman Joe Oswald. “It is extra special to our H4H board when a winner shares the same vision & values of paying it forward as we do. Cor Slikboer truly has tremendous character.”

The $114,050 he won is only half of what was collected in ticket sales, so the Hospice Erie Shores Campus is the big winner here.

“That’s an incredible place,” he said. "We are very lucky to have a place like that.”

Erie Shores Health Foundation Executive Director Christine Colautti was equally thrilled with Slikboer’s windfall.

Cor Slikboer poses with his giant cheque for $114,050 on Monday, January 4.

"What an amazing way to ring in the new year,” she said. “Congratulations once again to Cor and thank you to everyone who supported the raffle. The Foundation continues to feel so blessed to work in partnership with Hogs for Hospice and our community in support of the Hospice Erie Shores Campus."

“Our H4H Board of Directors wants to congratulate the Slikboer family,” added Oswald. "We want to thank our sponsor, Plant Products. Yet most of all, we want to thank everyone that purchased a ticket. We have a vision of helping families and our community and it is not possible without the ongoing support of our H4H supporters."

Oswald also confirmed that another 50-50 raffle will be held in the near future.

“We are proud that these two raffles have provided life changing money for two families as well as raising funds for the Hospice Erie Shores Campus,” he said.