COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The Air Force Birthday Ball Drawdown is an annual event put on to raise money for the upcoming Birthday Ball. Among the many prizes available to participants to win are a TV, door prizes, gift cards and the grand prize of $5,000.
This year’s grand prize was taken by Senior Airman Nick Candiano, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management Journeyman, July 22 on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. Even more of a pleasant surprise than winning the prize was the fact that it came on his 25th birthday.
“I knew the drawdown would be on my birthday, but I already had plans to watch a new movie,” Candiano said. “Airman Ewing asked me to buy a ticket and to support the Birthday Ball Committee, so I bought one. She told me that I did not need to be at the drawdown to win the prize, I thought I might as well; it definitely gave me more incentive to buy a ticket.”
Never did he think that he would actually win a prize, even less the grand prize of $5,000.
“After the movie, my phone started blowing up with messages,” Candiano said. “At first I didn’t believe that I won.”
By the luck of the draw, not only did he win, but he did so on his 25th birthday, on a day benefiting the Air Force’s birthday.
“I bought myself a nice TV, something I have been wanting for a while,” Candiano said. “The remainder of the money I will put into savings and investing.”