(Missoula, Montana) Missoula resident Eleonore Papke, 86, had to raise the seat up to see over the steering wheel of her new truck. Saturday there was a ceremony at Karl Tyler Chevrolet to award the 2009 Silverado Hybrid pick-up to the raffle winner of the Bresnan Communications/Chevy 15th annual raffle supporting Montana Special Olympics athletes and programs.

Eleonore with the keys to her new Chevy Silverado Hybrid.

Eleonore carried a small envelope with the two raffle ticket stubs that she had purchased from the dealership. Pete Kelly, Fleet Sales Manager, noticed there was a small slip of paper attached to the stubs. When he asked her about it, she pulled it out so he could read it for himself. It was a Chinese Fortune that she received in a cookie at lunch the day she purchased the tickets. It said: "You will receive an unexpected sum of money within the year."

Upon receiving the message Eleonore commented to her daughter, "I think this means I’m going to win that truck!”

The coincidences didn’t stop there—Eleonore’s late husband, Vaughan Papke, had owned a Chevy dealership in Lemmon, South Dakota from 1945 until he sold it in 1973; she purchased her winning ticket from a Chevy dealer thirty-five years later.

Eleonore receives her new Chevy Silverado Hybrid.

Although she had originally planned to sell the truck, Eleonore thinks she’ll probably keep it now. "Trucks sure aren’t what they used to be back when I drove one on the farm," she said.

The Bresnan/Chevy raffle is a fundraising event to benefit Special Olympics Montana held statewide every year.

Eleonore with her new truck and friends she supports through Special Olympics Montana.

For the complete list of winners click HERE

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion between people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for 1.4 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship.

Contact: Gillian Browne
Special Events Director
gbrowne@somt.org
406-216-5327

Special Olympics Montana
P.O. Box 3507
Great Falls, MT  59403
1-800-242-6876