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Dateline: 5/15/2009

GONZAGA UNIVERSITY NEWS FEATURE
By Bob Finn
Alumni Association Director

Alumni Scholarship Raffle Celebrates 25 Years
The Alumni Scholarship Benefit Car Raffle celebrates its 25th anniversary this year when the event begins at 4:30 p.m., June 6 at Bozarth Mansion.

The late Harry Leppek. Photo courtesy the Schafer family.
Harry Leppek's generosity started the Alumni Scholarship Benefit Car Raffle 25 years ago. Photo courtesy of the Schafer family.
For 25 years, the Alumni Association has sponsored a benefit to enhance its endowed student scholarship fund. The Gonzaga University Alumni Association Scholarship Fund has now surpassed $1 million and annually awards more than $150,000 to qualified Gonzaga undergraduates who are relatives of Gonzaga alumni. The Bozarth benefit is sold-out every year.

The Car Raffle has become one of the premier events for the Alumni Association and its Board of Directors. Established in 1984, the Alumni Association asked Harry Leppek if he would donate a new car that would be raffled for support of Gonzaga student scholarships; he eagerly agreed and attended every one of the scholarship benefits, except for one when his health played a role.

A professional attorney, Leppek devoted six decades to practicing law in East Los Angeles, where homeless and other downtrodden people knew Harry by his first name and he knew them. Harry Vincent Leppek is no longer with us but his legacy of giving continues. This year 37 Gonzaga students were awarded a total of $152,500 as a direct result of Harry Leppek’s inspiration.