The 2020 Caring Angel Basket Raffle and its accompanying 50/50 raffle topped $80,000 for the Butler Health System Foundation program.

The benefits from the annual fundraiser will be divided between family services at BHS and a charitable fund drawn upon for emergency room visits by children ages 17 and younger who don't have the insurance or resources to pay for the visit.

“The BHS Foundation is very appreciative of the outpouring of support from the Butler Health System employees and the local community for this fundraiser in support of children, youth and their families in Butler County,” said Kris Bowser, foundation development and events manager.

The raffling off of the 50 baskets, which had a combined value of $20,000, raised about $50,000 in ticket sales. The 50/50 raffle sold another $30,000 worth of tickets.

In all, more than 165,000 tickets were processed throughout the event.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the amount of money raised this year was relatively close to the amount raised at last year's event — about $80,000.

“Adjustments were made due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Bowser said.

Participants did not go to the hospital to physically drop their tickets in each basket's receptacle. Instead, ticket holders went online to see photos of the baskets and made their orders through an online form, arranging for check payments later.

Bowser said the event will be back again, pandemic or not.

“We are hopeful that the basket raffle can be held as normal in December 2021,” she said. “If not, we will make adjustments to meet current guidelines and look forward to another successful year.”