Thanks, but no thanks: Raffle winner returns winnings

Michael Mendel doesn't understand all the fuss.

He bought a raffle ticket to help a cause.

So when his ticket was pulled and he won $25,000, what better way to benefit the cause than donate the winnings on top of the $100 cost of his ticket?

"It was a goal to actually do it," he said. "At numerous times, I've written 'donate back' on tickets I've bought."

Mendel, 46, received his chance June 21 when he won the Drive for Cancer raffle put on by Delnor's Men's Foundation at Swedish Days in Geneva. The raffle benefits the LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva.

This wasn't the first time Mendel has helped LivingWell.

When the center first opened in September 2005, it opened with kitchen plumbing donated by Mendel Plumbing and Heating, Inc., his St. Charles company.

Mendel said donating the money was a way to continue to help the organization.

"I've always looked at it as being a good cause," he said.

LivingWell offers several awareness programs as well as exercise classes, education and support groups free of charge to those living with cancer and their families.

Mark Duncan has seen Mendel's generosity firsthand.

Duncan has worked for Mendel the last nine or 10 years and has been friends with him for about 15 years.

When Duncan's sons sold raffle tickets to benefit St. Charles North High School boosters, Mendel often wrote "donate back" on the ticket.

"He's just generous that way," Duncan said. "He's just a genuinely nice person in any way you deal with him."

What sets him apart, Duncan said, is that he does not do these things for selfish reasons.

"He does so much to help out organizations in the community and he doesn't want recognition," he said.

Mendel's company sponsors more than 20 youth league sports teams, and frequently makes donations to churches and other charitable organizations.

Mendel said his desire to help might have come from his parents.

"They were always giving," he said. "I enjoy helping. I think that brings joy to all of us when we can help. When you do, it's a good feeling."

For the first time, the Drive for Cancer raffle offered winners a choice between a new Mercedes C300 or $25,000.

Mendel said he did not expect the recognition he has received since he donated the money. While he said he now has tangible evidence of people's appreciation for acts of kindness, he hoped other people would follow his lead.

"When you think about it, it's a pretty cool thing," Mendel said. "But I think it'd be neat if that would happen more often. It would be nice if this inspired others to do it."