MORAGA, Calif. -- Before fans packed McKeon Pavilion and reminded the nation just what a great college basketball atmosphere really looks like, supporters of Saint Mary's athletics convened in the Soda Center on Feb. 21 for the 38th Annual Car Drawing presented by SteadAuto.com.

For the second year in a row, the event sold out with an all-time high of 550 raffle tickets and included delicious themed food stations, a hosted bar and an extensive silent auction. The event raised more than $70,000 for the Gael Athletic Fund and Saint Mary's College athletics.

Kathy '90 and John Hemmenway '84 walked away with the night's big prize when ticket No. 289 was announced as the grand prize winner. After 20 years of purchasing the same ticket, the Hemmenways almost gave up the number, deeming it unlucky. Mary Jo Bishari, Administrative Assistant of Alumni Engagement, urged them to give it one more try and that advice paid off handsomely. The cash prize winners were John Bartolero '50 and Kevin Lynch '89.

SMC Director of Athletics Mark Orr spoke to the crowd of more than 370, highlighting how support of the Gael Athletic Fund allows the Gaels to compete at the highest levels of the NCAA by funding student-athlete scholarships. 2015 marked the 20th year that Steadauto.com has served as the presenting sponsor for the Car Drawing, and the event has raised more than $1.92 million for Saint Mary's athletic scholarships over the past 38 years.

Gael Athletics would like to thank the event sponsors, Steadauto.com, Sodexo, Grape Expectations, and Diablo Foods, for their generous support of the event. For more information on how to support Gael athletics, please contact Tom Carroll at (925) 631-8685 or tcarroll@stmarys-ca.edu.