The 22nd annual Caring Angel Basket Auction came to a close Tuesday night.

The doors closed at 6 p.m. at the Nixon/Sarver Education Center in the Butler Hospital Tower, and staff members from the Butler Health System Foundation ate pizza while they stayed late to organize the drawing.

“We'll draw tonight and make calls (to the winners) tomorrow,” said Kris Bowser, development specialist and events manager of Butler Health System Foundation.

All winnings must be collected by 11 a.m. Wednesday.

This year the event raised $82,000 from basket tickets and $46,530 from 50-50 tickets.

“The 50-50 was about $30,000 last year. The basket tickets sales were in line with where we've been in the past,” Bowser said.

Various hospital departments and community members donated 59 baskets this year.

Bowser said the basket raffle has become the key fundraiser for the Caring Angel campaign, along with other efforts by local schools,chocolate sales and sponsors.

The Caring Angel Program provides charitable emergency room care to children under the age of 18 whose parents or guardians do not have insurance or resources to pay.

This is an excerpt of a story that appears in Wednesday's Butler Eagle. For the full story, make sure to pick up a copy or subscribe online.