Louisville Charity Raffle Offers Rare Bourbon Flight
Ronald McDonald House Louisville is raffling a signed six-bottle collection of Van Winkle bourbon and rye to support families.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Ronald McDonald House Louisville has launched a raffle for a six-bottle flight of signed Van Winkle bourbon to raise funds for pediatric care support services. Tickets are limited to 1,750 entries, with all proceeds directly aiding families traveling to the city for medical treatment.
Why it matters
The funds raised through this initiative allow the organization to provide essential lodging and support for families navigating pediatric medical care in Louisville. Since 2019, this annual raffle has served as a critical financial pillar for the nonprofit.
The raffle features 1,750 tickets available at $100 each. The collection includes Pappy Van Winkle 23-Year, 20-Year, and 15-Year bottles, along with the 13-Year Rye and 10-Year and 12-Year reserves.
The players
Ronald McDonald House Louisville
This nonprofit organization provides housing and support services for families seeking medical care for their children.
Julian Van Winkle III
He is the president of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery and provided his signature for the bottles included in the charity raffle.
Marc Abrams
He is a Louisville-based bourbon expert who authenticated the bottles for the raffle collection.
The details
Bourbon expert Marc Abrams authenticated the entire six-bottle collection, which was signed by Julian Van Winkle III. The raffle supports the organization, which served 1,200 families and provided 15,000 nights of lodging in 2025.
Timeline
Fundraising for the raffle began in 2019.
Julian Van Winkle III signed the bottles on October 3, 2026.
Raffle ticket sales opened on October 6, 2026.
Raffle ticket sales close at 10 a.m. ET on November 12, 2026.
Market Landscape
The raffle leverages the high secondary-market value of rare bourbon to drive significant charitable donations. This positions the organization's fundraising model to capture capital from high-demand collectible markets that traditional donation drives often miss.
Interested participants can purchase tickets online to support local families in need of medical housing. The raffle provides supporters a chance to acquire rare spirits while directly funding 56 rooms of capacity for those in pediatric care.
The takeaway
The raffle successfully turns high-demand luxury goods into a reliable stream of funding for family support services. Participants should note the November 12 deadline to ensure their entries are processed before the limited ticket supply is exhausted.
Further reading
For more information on regional charitable initiatives, visit the Louisville Philanthropy section.
More information
To enter the drawing, visit the raffle ticket purchase page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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