The Elwoods, the St. Johnsville raffle winners, celebrate a local victory while raffle proceeds support children’s services through MVHS.

UTICA, N.Y. A St. Johnsville couple has received a $100,000 prize from the 2026 Children’s Miracle Network raffle, turning a local fundraiser into a life-changing moment for one Mohawk Valley household.

Steve and Theresa Elwood were presented with the check after winning the drawing held Wednesday, October 14, according to WKTV’s October 19 report. They said they were surprised by the win and planned to take time before deciding how to use the money.

The community is buzzing about the recent St. Johnsville raffle winners, Steve and Theresa Elwood, and their remarkable prize.

The prize is the attention-grabbing part of the story. The community benefit is that proceeds remain local and support the Children’s Miracle Network program at Mohawk Valley Health System.

Who won the $100,000 raffle?

The winners are Steve and Theresa Elwood of St. Johnsville. Their check presentation follows the previous week’s drawing, rather than a second or newly announced drawing.

That distinction matters for readers seeing the story for the first time on Tuesday morning. The fresh development is the presentation and the winners’ reaction. The winning selection itself took place on October 14.

The public account reviewed for this article does not announce a specific purchase, gift or investment the couple intends to make. Their stated plan is to take time to decide. There is no reason to assign a financial plan to them or speculate about their private circumstances.

How does the raffle help local children?

According to WKTV, all raffle proceeds stay local to support the Children’s Miracle Network program at MVHS. The report identifies past support for neonatal intensive care supplies and speech therapy for families without insurance coverage for those services.

Those examples explain the connection between buying a ticket and supporting care close to home. They also deserve careful wording. Past funding does not establish that every future dollar will be spent in exactly the same way, and it does not mean that every service is automatically covered for every family.

Families seeking a particular service should contact the health system directly about current programs and eligibility. A report about a fundraiser cannot substitute for an individual coverage decision or a provider’s guidance.

Why this is a Mohawk Valley story

St. Johnsville residents are part of the wider network of communities that look to Utica and surrounding health providers for services. A local winner gives the fundraising story a familiar place and a personal face.

The program connection is also local: MVHS receives support for its Children’s Miracle Network work. For readers across the region, that makes the story about both a neighboring couple’s good fortune and the services the fundraiser helps sustain.

The reviewed report does not provide the fundraiser’s total receipts, the number of tickets sold or a complete allocation of this year’s proceeds. Those numbers should not be inferred from the size of the grand prize.

What can be said about the winnings?

The announced prize is $100,000. The Elwoods’ publicly reported response was surprise and a decision to pause before making plans. That is enough to tell the story without guessing how the money will change their household.

This article does not calculate an after-tax payout or characterize the prize as tax-free. It also does not offer financial advice to the winners. Those matters depend on circumstances outside the information released with the presentation.

How readers can learn more about supporting children’s care

People interested in the program can start with the official MVHS website and look for information about its foundation and Children’s Miracle Network activities.

Anyone planning a donation should confirm the current campaign, beneficiary and giving instructions through the organization itself. A news story about this completed raffle should not be mistaken for an announcement that tickets remain on sale.

Similarly, readers should not assume that a future raffle will have the same prize, entry cost or drawing date. Those details belong to each event’s official rules and announcements.

Quick answers about the announcement

Who received the prize?

Steve and Theresa Elwood of St. Johnsville.

How much was the prize?

The announced check was for $100,000.

When was the winning drawing?

Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The check presentation was reported on October 19.

Where do raffle proceeds go?

WKTV reports that proceeds stay local and support the Children’s Miracle Network program at MVHS.

Have the winners announced how they will spend it?

The report says they intend to take time before deciding.

The Elwoods have a major reason to celebrate. The fundraiser’s broader story is the connection between that celebration and continuing support for children’s care in the Mohawk Valley.

Source: WKTV’s October 19 report. Information checked October 20, 2026.