WEF’s car raffle winner is lucky...again!

Leigh and Karen Luzar receive the keys to their new car from Mary Essig, Westlake Educational Foundation President; Scott Goggin, Superintendent and Foundation Chairperson; and Ann Beyer, Foundation Secretary.

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How lucky can one person be? Just ask Leigh Luzar. Last year, he won $250 from the Westlake Alumni Association when he purchased raffle tickets to support the Westlake Educational Foundation’s car raffle. This year, Leigh again purchased car raffle tickets and won the grand prize – a 2022 Chevy Malibu LS!

Due to the generosity of Serpentini Chevrolet of Westlake, who donated the 2022 Chevy Malibu, the Westlake Educational Foundation recently held its 3rd Annual Car Raffle.

As in prior years, the Foundation partnered with other organizations within the school district who support various aspects of Westlake student life. By promoting the raffle, Westlake Demons Athletic Boosters, Westlake Music Boosters, Westlake PTAs, and Westlake Alumni Association shared in the ticket sales proceeds. With their involvement and support, the Foundation’s third car raffle exceeded $25,000 in ticket sales proceeds.

These proceeds will help the Foundation and its partner organizations support their respective missions, ultimately enhancing the curricular and extra-curricular activities of Westlake City Schools’ students. For example, the Foundation recently awarded over $30,000 in grants to teachers at Westlake High School and Lee Burneson Middle School for equipment and materials that support creative and innovative teaching experiences in their respective classrooms.

Upon hearing that he had won the car, Leigh and his wife, Karen, were initially shocked and thought it was a prank. When they realized they actually had won the car, Karen turned to Leigh and said, “Now you can both retire,” meaning Leigh and his 11-year-old car.

Leigh and Karen are North Olmsted residents, having sent their four children to North Olmsted city schools. Their three youngest children are triplets, and when they began driving, Leigh and Karen bought a 2000 Chevy Malibu for their daughters to share. That car went to the University of Toledo with the girls, then to grad school at Cleveland State University, and beyond. Leigh joked that he never got to drive that car, but now he’ll have his own, brand-new Chevy Malibu to drive. “This was a blessing to us since I just turned 70 and was in the market for my retirement car.”

Leigh summed up his reasons for supporting the Westlake Educational Foundation’s car raffle when he said, “We will continue to support the Westlake Educational Foundation because we know how important it can be when one teacher, coach, certain class subject, can influence a student for the rest of their life.”

In addition to the Chevy Malibu grand prize, FOUNT at Crocker Park donated a leather tote bag and each of the Westlake partner organizations donated prizes for the raffle. Michelle Johnson won the FOUNT bag. Tammy Parker won the Westlake Music Boosters gift basket. Jill Minerd won the Westlake PTAs “W” Car Wash Bucket. Carrie Rendziak and Walt Nimylowycz each won $250 from the Westlake Alumni Association. Lori Negron won the WDAB “W” Shop and Demon Derby Gift Pack.