Brian Pierre, the winner of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra, says he purchased a raffle ticket to help out the organization and never expected to be chosen as the winner of the car.

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Author: Raegan Gibson

Published: 4:54 PM CDT March 24, 2019

Updated: 10:54 PM CDT March 24, 2019

SILSBEE, Texas — A Beaumont man is riding in style after the Beaumont NAACP recently gave away a car as a prize in a recent raffle fundraiser to benefit local projects.

Brian Pierre, the winner of the 2018 Hyundai Elantra, said he purchased a raffle ticket to help out the organization and never expected to be chosen as the winner of the car.

“I was excited,” Pierre said. “I couldn’t believe it at first.”

Brenda Spivey, first Vice President of the Beaumont NAACP, says the branch held the fundraiser to celebrate its 100th year and to connect with the community.

The chapter partnered with the Silsbee Hyundai dealership in order to offer the car as the first place prize. She said the fundraiser will continue as long as partners like the Silsbee Hyundai dealership choose to partner with the chapter.

“We’ll be able to take the excess revenue from the car and promote the other projects we do during the year,” Spivey said. “We do a scholarship banquet, and we also work with the back-to-school program and partner with several other organizations.”

Spivey said the program allows the organizations to provide students with school supplies.

“This revenue will help us with a lot of our other community projects that we have going on.”

Dale Early, owner of Silsbee Hyundai and a member of the Beaumont NAACP, says the dealership ‘couldn’t help but get involved in this particular fundraiser.’ He said it represents a commitment to help the organization throughout the year.

“We’re looking forward to be able to do this year after year after year, this is the first raffle they’ve ever done before,” Early said. “So we were glad to be the inaugural dealer involved and hopefully we’ll continue that relationship as time goes on.”