At Western Michigan University, the magic of winning isn’t limited to the Cotton Bowl bound Bronco football team.

Kim LaViolette, an employee in the university’s Landscape department, made that discovery today as she celebrated winning a new vehicle through the 2016 United Way Sweepstakes.

WMU President John Dunn took part in surprising LaViolette with the announcement. As she left the Bernhard Center following a department meeting, a smiling Dunn leaped out of a sponsor’s car, calling LaViolette’s name and holding up a set of car keys. Colleagues and onlookers who knew about the surprise broke out in applause.

“Excited? I’m in shock,” LaViolette said, standing alongside three sponsor vehicles parked at the Bernhard Center for the surprise announcement..

LaViolette, a Kalamazoo resident, was chosen at random from thousands of qualified donors in this year’s United Way campaign to win a new automobile up to a value of $30,000. This is the fifth year of the vehicle giveaway through a sweepstakes sponsored by United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region (UWBCKR).

A long-time donor, LaViolette said she’s glad to make a difference in her community through United Way. “It’s important to help people that need help,” she said.

According to Interim CEO Chris Sargent, 6,801 contributors qualified for this year’s sweepstakes drawing, representing $854,130 in donations. Donors were automatically entered if they were first-time givers of at least $50 in undesignated funds or gave an undesignated gift at least $25 above their previous year’s donation. During this year’s regional campaign, UWBCKR and participating dealers displayed 40 automobiles at 24 workplace locations across the region.

“The Sweepstakes adds an extra fun factor to our annual campaign while generating crucial support for programs that are transforming lives,” said Sargent. “We congratulate Kim and thank her and all donors for helping change the story in our region.”

The 2016 Sweepstakes was generously supported by the following: Kellogg Community Federal Credit Union, Cole Automotive Group, DeNooyer Chevrolet, Orrin B. Hayes Inc., Metro Imports, Seelye Auto Group, Lakeview Ford, Henkel Automotive Group, Heritage Chevrolet, Harold Zeigler Automotive Group and Sunshine Toyota.