One Ticket Connected a Family To Something Much Larger Than Themselves

Nov 14

How often do you get to see — really see — the joy on the faces of the people who win your nonprofit raffle?

Most of the time, we send the winning email, make the congratulatory call, and hope they're out there somewhere having the time of their lives.

But this time, we’re lucky.

Thanks to one of our winners, Nikki Bucher, we get a glimpse behind the curtain of the unforgettable Las Vegas adventure she won: a weekend wrapped in lights, music, and the magic of The Sphere.

Back in August 2025, with the help of community leader and friend Ken Chung, the Ranger Legacy Foundation wrapped up two simultaneous raffles:
• a VIP trip to see The Eagles in Las Vegas at The Sphere, and
• a VIP experience at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

Two experiences big enough to stop time for whoever’s name was drawn.

When we contacted the Bucher family to share the news, Nikki’s husband called us back — cautiously, skeptically — to make sure it wasn’t a scam. We laughed with him as we confirmed that yes… they had really won a trip worth $3,500.

And they had won it with a single $25 ticket.

That same $25 helped us take a major step forward in our mission. It helped the Ranger Legacy Foundation hire the architects who are shaping the next phase of concept development for the Ranger Legacy Center, a place that will one day give generations a deeper connection to the warriors who quietly carried the burdens of service.

But truthfully, the very best part of all of this? Seeing their smiles. Feeling their joy. Knowing that a simple act, buying one ticket, connected a family to something larger than themselves.

The Ranger Legacy Foundation exists to share the heart and soul of what it means to be a Ranger. We do that by lifting up the stories that happen far from the battlefield: stories rooted in family, community, resilience, humor, and hope. Stories that deserve to be carried forward.

Thank you to Nikki, to the entire Bucher family, and to everyone who took a chance — not just on winning, but on us. Your faith fuels this mission, and together, we are building something worthy of the Ranger legacy.