Do Good Programs: Scratch for Schools

On a crisp November morning at Lewiston’s Centennial Elementary during a Bucks for Books delivery, one young student shared her love of books. “The library is where I go first thing in the morning and after school. I love books. I have books all over my room. When I grow up, I want to become a librarian.” This is why the Idaho Lottery exists. To make a difference in funding for Idaho’s students and future leaders. The Idaho Lottery was created by a vote of the People in 1988. Since beginning operations in 1989, the Idaho Lottery has returned $629 million to the Department of Education for facility improvements and bond interest payments, plus another $477 million to the State of Idaho’s Permanent Building Fund Account for facilities like college campuses. Beyond our annual dividend, the Idaho Lottery is reaching teachers and schools through on-the-ground, grassroots programs. The combination of Scratch for Schools, Classroom Wishlist, and Bucks for Books reached 479 public schools with a total of $308,000 for individual classroom and program needs last year.

The Idaho Lottery rigorously manages its budget. The chart below reflects how Lottery funds are distributed.

67%

20%

1%

2%

Betty Kiefer Elementary winners Coeur d’Alene Scratch Event

SCRATCH FOR

Lincoln High School in Idaho Falls used their $198 in Scratch for Schools winnings to support their Hope Squad (a suicide prevention program) and fund Student Council activities to bring hope and raise school spirit. They were one of 379 schools who participated in one of fourteen, in-person event sessions in ten cities, including a return to Sandpoint and first-time ever events in McCall and Salmon. As a strategy to manage COVID protocols, the Lottery hosted events in venues either large enough to accommodate all participating schools or offered two sessions back-to-back. The fastest scratching school this year was Buhl Middle School who scratched 206 tickets in five minutes. The biggest winning school was Betty Kiefer Elementary in Rathdrum who claimed $647 in prize winnings from the event in Coeur d’Alene. Below are the event locations: Garden City, Treasure Valley, 65 schools Nampa, Treasure Valley, 64 schools 2 in Twin Falls, Magic Valley, 64 schools total McCall, 5 schools Lewiston, Clearwater Region, 32 schools Ponderay, North Idaho, 11 schools 2 in Coeur d’Alene, North Idaho, 37 schools 2 in Idaho Falls, Eastern Idaho, 50 schools Salmon, 4 schools 2 in Pocatello, Southeast Idaho, 47 schools